By Femi Atolagbe
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Ondo State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Mr Saka Yusuf Ogunleye has assured the people of  the state of the readiness of the current administration to continue to accord sports a  place of pride for the growth and development of the upcoming athletes in the State.

The commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Dupe Eshiofone, gave the assurance at the inauguration of the boards of sports association held at the Ondo State Sports complex in Akure.

Ogunleye said the boards were inaugurated for the development of sports activities in the state.

He urged the Chairmen and their members to bring all the athletes together in their various sports to encourage and motivate them for optimum performance.

He called on them  to partner with the State government, private sectors, and all stakeholders within and outside the shore of the state in funding and sponsoring sporting events in the state.

According to him, “while doing this we will be able to project some of these athletes to the world and our state will be ranked high in sports .

The Acting General Manager of the State Sports Council, Mr Wande Fabuluje thanked the state government for creating the enabling environment for sports to strive in the state, saying the council under his management is ready to take sports to the next level .

Fabuluje added that his management is ready to surpass what they achieved at the last Abuja 2018 National Sports Festival in Edo 2020.

He therefore appealed to all enthusiastic sports fans in the state to oblige the committee any assistance they request from them in the interest of sports development in the state.

On his part the Chairman of the committee for the formation of Ondo State Sports Association, Mr Sylvester Ikuejamoye averred that based on the pedigree of the newly inaugurated Chairmen they will perform creditably well in the task ahead of them .

He stressed further that “with the caliber of  people on the boards, I strongly believe that the next year Festival, Edo 2020, we are going  to perform better.

“They are determined,

they have the experience, above all they have what it takes to support and they are all ready to make sacrifice to put the state in her right place in Sporting arena among the comity of states”.

Chairman, Ondo State Cricket Association, Mr Olusegun Akinyemi who spoke on behalf of all the Chairmen said “the challenges ahead is quite tasking, but we trust in God that we will return the state back to her place of pride in sports”.

The newly inaugurated boards had Arabirin Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu as Chairman Tennis association, while commissioner for sports and youth development ,Mr Saka Yusuf Ogunleye, deputy rector of Rufus Giwa polytechnic, Dr Alagha Samuel Adelanke , member house of assembly representing Ilaje constituency 1, Prince Abayomi Akinruntan and Chairman NAPHER- SD, Otunba Sylvester Ikuejamoye chaired athletic, Scrabble, Gymnastics and Handball association respectively.