By Femi Atolagbe
Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has assured that his administration will continue to give adequate support to all round sports in the state.
Akeredolu, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tayo Oluwatuyi stated this at the inauguration of the People United by Sports (PUBS) state executives at the indoor hall of the State Sports Complex, Akure the State Capital.
He commended the association for acknowledging the giant strides of the current administration in the sports arena.
The Governor admonished the organisation not to shy away from coming up with lofty ideas that will further develop all round sports in the state.
He said, “on our part we will ensure that sports men and women in the state get the best they deserved to enhance their participation both home and abroad”
The Member Ondo House of Assembly representing Akure South constituency 2 , Mr Sunday Olajide noted that sports has always been a unifying factor among the citizenry.
The Chairman of the house committee on finance and appropriation added that he has been championing the cause of sports development over the years.
According to him, “I am a sports person and that is why I have been speaking in the interest of sports development, we appreciate you all for identify with the Governor’s effort at moving sports forward in the state”.
In his welcome address, the President of the association, Mr Seun Betiku explained that People United By Sports (PUBS) is an association that cuts across the 18 local Government with over 2000 members both at the state and the local government levels.
Betiku said, “having perused the Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu performance in all ramifications, sports included, hence the reason we decided to adopt him as our sole candidate for the forthcoming Governorship election in the state.
“We are of the believe that every household in the state has a sports person, so we are in every nooks and crannies of the state, we have started putting mercenaries in place to begin the mobilisation for the Governor’s second term bid.”
Inaugurated along with the president, are Vice President, Lanre Famakinwa, Odogun Kehinde, General Secretary, Sulaiman Folarin Financial Secretary, Isaac Afolabi Director of Media, Ayokunle Oluwatope Public Relation Officer, Toyin Akinjagunla, Organising Secretary, Olatunbosun Abimbola ,Women coordinator among others.
The event also featured the presentation of Meritorious to Ondo born Olympians Seun Ogunkoya and Odunayo Adekuoroye for their outstanding contributions to sports development and projecting the image of Nigeria and Ondo state sports.
Both awardee thanked the association for finding them worthy of the awards, describing it as a call for greater challenge.