ODSG ready to partner NGOs on sports devt –Owanikin

By Femi Atolagbe
|
The Ondo state Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Dotun Owanikin  has reiterated the readiness of the state government to partner with Non- Governmental Organisations that are ready for the development of sports in the state

Owanikin stated this while playing host to the members of National Association of Women in Sports (NAWIS), Ondo state chapter, in his office in Akure, the state capital.

The commissioner, who was impressed with the objectives of the association expressed the willingness of government to always support sincere motives that would help promote sports in the state.

He enjoined the association to be resilient in achieving their aims and objectives.

He noted that partnering with private organisations and individuals is the new trend  to develop sports, adding that states  that recorded tremendous successes at competitions are those who have bought into the innovation.

He stressed that the association needs to work assiduously to discourage doping and age cheating among athletes and imbibe the culture of talent hunt among the young ones by promoting inter school sports at the primary and secondary schools levels in order to catch them young in their localities.

According to him “This is our concern. We have to do the needful to develop sports and assist the youth with all our efforts even in the face of paucity of fund.

“As a Ministry, we are there to assist you to achieve your noble goals but you need to be selfless in promoting sports and avoid over reliance on government for funding”.

Earlier, the President of the Association Princess Adejoke Adebusoye said members were at the Ministry to seek the support of state government to achieve the association objectives of promoting its aims and objectives which include promoting morals, good conducts as well as encouraging athletics development and education.

The President, who praised the performance of the state’s representatives at the 2019 National Youth Sports Festival in Ilorin where the state took 7th position, urged the ministry to build on that feat in the forthcoming festival in Benin, Edo state next year.

Princess Adebusoye, who praised the Commissioner for his achievements since assumption of office solicited his support towards achieving NAWIS aims and objectives and the hosting of its forthcoming National Conference in December. She stressed that the association was yet to be represented at National Sporting Federation due to its absence at national fora and inadequate fund.