Ekiti to set up Sports Development Fund
From Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti
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Apparently in a bid to ensure a sustained funding for sports development in the state, the Ekiti State government has concluded plan to set up a Sports Development Fund.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports in the state, Mr. Yemi Owoseni, made the disclosure in Ado-Ekiti during a one-day workshop for members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Ekiti state chapter
He explained that the plan mandate will be to interface with public and private sectors to raise funds for sports development in the state.
The Special Assistant to Ekiti state governor on New Media, Mr Abiodun Borisade who was represented by Messrs Ayodele Akande and Tosin Adara were the resource persons at the training work with the theme “Use of new media techniques in Sports Journalism”.
Owoseni said the move became imperative, noted that government alone cannot adequately fund sports with other numerous responsibility at hand.
“Governor Kayode Fayemi is passionate about sports and he was willing to bring it back to its rightful place in the state.
“Ekiti sports development fund will be set up and will be outside sports. From the pool of the funds, we look at how government will complement such to develop sporting activities in the state.
” Apart from that, there will be sport lottery to engage people in sports funding. The first Ekiti state Marathon will also come up before the end of the year. It will hold along Efon/Ikogosi Axis.
” Sports talents abound in Ekiti, they only need encouragement from government, corporate organizations and other stakeholders,” he said.
Earlier, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the State, Comrade Rotimi Ojomoyela and the State SWAN Chairman, Mr Ayodeji Ogunsakin stressed the need for the government to make sports attractive to the youths of the state.
This, according to the duo, will make the young people who take up sports as profession to be fully engaged and reduce crimes and criminality in the state.
The NUJ Chair used the occasion to appreciate the state government for resuscitating and for giving necessary support to the state owned Ekiti United Football Club.
The General Manager, Ekiti State Sports Council, Chief Ayodeji Samo posited that core professionals are now administering sports in the state adding that sports will be better for it in the state.
He said sports coaches are working round the clock across the state to discover talents
“We have coaches in various districts in Ijero, Ikere, Ikole and Ado Ekiti who are working to ensure that talents are discovered at the grassroots who will be nurtured to stardom so as to represent the state and country at local, national and international competition.
The state government, ministry and the council are doing their best to move sports to the next level in the state. “
