…as renovation works commence at stadium

By Precious Owolabi, Ado-Ekiti

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has restated his administration’s commitment to utilising sports as a catalyst for job creation and wealth generation.

Speaking on Friday during an inspection of the ongoing renovation at Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado-Ekiti, the Governor emphasised that sports in the state would no longer be viewed merely as a recreational activity but as a strategic platform for empowering athletes.

Expressing disappointment over the poor conditions in which athletes train, Oyebanji assured them that such challenges would soon be a thing of the past. He reaffirmed his administration’s determination to upgrade the stadium to meet international standards.

The Governor also revealed that his government had awarded a contract worth over ₦7 billion for the construction of a state-of-the-art indoor sports hall, which is expected to be completed before the end of his tenure.

While assuring athletes of his administration’s commitment to providing an enabling environment—including modern facilities and training programmes—to enhance their competitiveness at national and international levels, he urged them to remain diligent, stay focused on their goals, and seize the opportunities being created to develop their talents.

“I came here this morning in continuation of what we started yesterday just to look at what is happening at the stadium. I recall that I was here last year, I went round and I did not like what I saw and I promised that we are going to revamp sports in Ekiti State.

“If you look at the six pillars of our administration, one of them is human capital development, that is where sport development is and I made a promise that we will use sport as an avenue to create job and wealth, that sport will no longer be a recreation activities, it will be a platform for sport lovers in sporting activities to make money and we can only do that if we put in place structures and building blocks that will allow you to exhibit your potentials,” the Governor said.

In her remarks, the Technical Adviser on Sports Development, Dr (Mrs) Olusola Osetoba, commended the Governor’s vision and proactive approach in ensuring that sports are no longer seen merely as recreation but as a vehicle for youth empowerment, job creation, and economic growth.

Speaking on behalf of the athletes, Captain of Ekiti United Football Club, Makanjuola Ayodeji, who could not contain his excitement, expressed profound gratitude to the Governor for his significant contributions to the welfare of athletes in the state.

He noted that since the inception of the Governor’s administration, they had witnessed remarkable improvements in their conditions of service, including salary increments, new uniforms, travel allowances, and bonuses.