Sports Dev: Minister Explains Collaboration Of Ministries

Lagos State Commissioner for Sports, Youth and Social Development, Wahid Enitan-Oshodi, has said collaboration between the Ministries of Sports and Education was to produce sportsmen and women well-equipped for life.

Enitan-Oshodi told Tidesports in Lagos that both ministries were already partnering and should be promoted because of education’s importance in people’s lives.

He said the relationship would also ensure better development of school sports in the state.

The commissioner said the partnership was to ensure that sportsmen and women were adequately equipped for life after sports.

“Education is such a critical factor in the lives of these young ones, especially the sportsmen and women.

“If you have good education, then it helps you in sports and in your career after sports,’’ he said.

Enitan-Oshodi said the Ministry of Sports, Youth and Social Development would not relent in the provision of sports facilities and equipment for students.

“It is going to be on a developmental process, especially for athletics in public schools. We have seen that a lot of pupils in their school years cannot use spike shoes to run.

“But it is something we are working on, if they move from this level, it is important that they wear the correct kits.

“The Lagos State governor is seriously doing a great job in terms of funding and equipment and to a great extent, I know it will filter down to these students,’’ he said.

The commissioner said the most important thing now was that the sports ministry collaborates with its education counterpart, to improve sports at the grassroots.

“The Education Ministry advises us on how best to deal with the students, the best time for them to train and compete. So, it is a partnership that is getting better,’’ he said.

Enitan-Oshodi also said that education was important in the lives of sportsmen and women as it helped them to live well, after their sports careers.