Sports, veritable means of harnessing youths potentials – Akeredolu

By Femi Atolagbe
|
Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has described Sports as an important tool in nations building and youth engagement.

The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Saka Yusuf Ogunleye, stated this during the flagging off of the International Olympic Day Celebration in Akure.

The Olympic Day Run is enshrined in the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) calendar and is organised in Nigeria by the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Sports for All Commission.

The governor said, “Sports is very dear to our heart in the State and our administration will not relent in engaging our people in sports for health benefits and chosen career for the teaming youths.

Most of the youths that have taken career in sports are on the payroll of the state government”.

 He added further that “Sports is a veritable means of harnessing youths potentials and channelising their energy in the right direction.

Ondo has no doubt bought into the objective of Olympic Day celebration which among other things is to promote sports, values and cement unity. Once again I congratulate you all for  participating in the 2019 Olympic Day Run”.

The programme took off from the Governor’s Office, as participants sang, walked and jogged intermittently for a distance of over three kilometers which cut across Alagbaka, Oke Eda, Oja Oba and Old Garage, before the exercise was closed with an aerobic session at the Ondo State Sports Complex.

Speaking with Sports Writers after the event, the Coordinator of Sports for All  in Ondo State, Otunba Sylvester Ikuejamoye, who had earlier delivered a message from IOC President, Thomas Bach highlighted the importance of the Olympic Day and promised  to ensure the event will not be a one – off programme in the state.

Ikuejamoye stressed further that “Olympic Day Run is a global event and the essence of it is to unite the Olympic family and the spirit of the Olympic, which is all about fairness, love, peace, and coming together.

 The event shows that Ondo State takes sports and the spirit of Olympic seriously. Its gratifying to know that from the top government functionaries to the lowest, everyone seems to key into this. I’m elated for all that happened. It has been a wonderful outing.

 “As a member at the National level I insisted with the support of the state government to have it here. Assuredly, I strongly believe it will be an annual thing at least within the next four years of my duration, that I can guarantee you”, he submitted.

The general manager of the state Sports council ,Mr Wande Fabuluje thanked the governor for his vision for sports in the state .

He said what we are seeing here is part of his mission statement when he was appointed the OSSC GM, that the council will not face football alone, but to drive the whole 26 sports in council.

At the end of the exercise certificates of participation, duly signed by IOC President,Thomas  Bach were presented to the Governor Akeredolu and other participants.

 Participants at the Olympic Day Run include the Permanent Secretary Ministry of  Sports, Mrs Dupe Eshofonie, the Ministry’s DFA, Mr Akinseloyin Abiodun and Director of Sports, Mrs Lebi Evelyn, others are Athletes, Journalists, Corps members, students, Security Operatives andPara Militaries and others.