By Femi Atolagbe

Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology ,Mrs Adegoke Folasade Abimbola has appealed to private individuals and corporate bodies to join hands with the government to develop sports in Ondo State.

She stated this at the commissioning of an ultra modern Basketball and volleyball court at the Akure Secondary Commercial School.

The permanent Secretary who was represented by the Director of Schools in the ministry, Dr Ige Akindele Matthew, commending the donor of the multipurpose court and charged other well to do in the society to contribute to the development of sports in the state.

Abimbola said: “Government cannot develop sports alone, therefore, I call on all well to do in the society both at home and in diaspora to join hands with government to return the state’s sports sector to its former status, where Ondo state leads and others follow.

“What you have done for this School is of great importance. I can assure you that these students will remember you for good in future.

The ultra modern Basketball and Volleyball court was built and donated to the school by Legacy Elite Club, which has one of the old students as their president.

In a chat with Sporting Hope, President of Legacy Elite Club, Prince Matthew Adegoke said he decided to build the facility to encourage the students in the area of extra curriculum activities.

Adegoke added that his goal has been to see one of Akure Secondary Commercial students in National Basketball Association (NBA), saying that was the major reason he built the court for the school.

“I was a footballer, in fact I played for this great school when I was here as a student, but later I developed keen interest on Basketball”.

“I appeal to parents to encourage their children to participate in sports of their choice, sports is a lucrative business and everything is not about academic certificate, we should allow these students to showcase their God giving talents in the sports of their choice”.

“We are going to put a very good maintenance mechanism in place to ensure the facility is well used.”

In his welcome address, the principal of the school, Mrs Stella Akinbohun thanked the donor for remembering his alma mater and for investing his hard earned money towards the completion of the project.

She emphasized the need for more hands to compliment government’s efforts in sports development.

According to her, “sporting activities is part of the curriculum of education, many people have made it in life through sports, students are emotionally stable and more focused , it also reduces their waywardness and violence because they accept defeats easily and embrace the Winner.”, she stated.