Govt Official Urges LG Chiefs To Invest In Sports

Wale Oladunjoye, Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on Grassroots Sports Development, has urged local government council chairmen to invest sports development in their areas.

Oladunjoye made the call when he spoke with  newsmen in Lagos at the maiden Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area traditional sports competition.

He said that if the LG chiefs sponsored tournaments and provide infrastructure, the youths would be empowered and crime reduced.

Games featured in the competition sponsored by the state government include ayo olopon, ludo, draught, gidigbo (traditional wrestling) and ram fighting.

Oladunjoye also said that increased participation of youths in sports would create a resoervoir from which  talents would be discovered and nurtured.

“The state government is trying its best to develop sports at the grassroots but it also lies on our council chiefs to also give a helping hand to the state government.

“If youths are attracted to sports, it will not only serve as  empowerment to them but also reduce crime in our society,’’ he said.

Oladunjoye said the government was promoting traditional games to rekindle people’s interest in tradition and culture.

Sikiru Mabadeje, Fatai Sekoni, Okanlawon Lasisi and Kunle Bamidele emerged winners in draught, ayo olopon, gidigbo and ludo respectively.

The winners, second, third and fourth place finishers in the competitions received N10,000, N7,500, N5,000 and N5,000 respectively.

A ram, named Muntari, received N25,000 for winning the ram fight, while Omo-Long and Agege that came second and third received N15,000 and N10,000 respectively.