Lagos Names Stadium’s Hall After Okoya-Thomas

The indoor sports hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, will from June 8 be known as Molade Okoya-Thomas Sports Hall.

Ademola Adeniji-Adele, the Lagos Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, said the decision to honour the philanthropist was in recognition of his contribution to sports.

Adeniji-Adele said at the weekend that it was also aimed at sustaining the Public Private Partnership (PPP) policy of the state government.

He said the decision would also encourage individuals and corporate organisations to complement government’s effort in developing sports.

The commissioner said Okoya-Thomas had single handedly sponsored the annual Asoju-Oba Table Tennis Championships since 1968.

He said the philanthropist also donated a sports hall to the Lagos State University and was a member of the fund raising committee for the construction of Teslim Balogun Stadium.

The naming ceremony, he added, would hold on June 8 with a State Dinner at the City Hall.

Adeniji-Adele said the event would be hled as part of the ceremonies marking the 75th birthday of Okoya-Thomas.