Omotayo Wants Assembly To Pass Sports Dev Trust Fund Bill

A sports psychologist, Prof. Seun Omotayo, yesterday urged the Ogun House of Assembly to urgently pass the Sports Development Trust Fund Bill to enhance sports funding in the state.
Omotayo made the appeal at an event organised as part of the 2019 Ogun SWAN Week programme of activities in Abeokuta.
Tidesports source reports that Ogun SWAN Week is being organised by the Ogun chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN). The week has as its theme “2018 National Sports Festival: The Lessons Therein’’.
“If the law is implemented, sports activities will run effectively.
“Imagine where all industries in the state are asked to contribute to the trust fund.
“Sports will naturally develop in the state,” Omotayo, who is the President of African Universities Football Union (AFSU), said.
He also suggested that the state Sports Council should be replaced with a commission. The sports psychologist also contended that it was not good that the Sports Council was still being run by the state through the Civil Service structure and not a professional structure.
He said reasons for the poor performance of the Ogun contingent at National Sports Festivals (NSFs) included non-utilisation of facilities, mode of athletes’ recruitment, poor nutrition of athletes and funding.
Speaking also, Taiwo Adeoluwa, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), reiterated the importance of sports and youth development to the state.
He commended the athletes for striving to put Ogun in the forefront of sports participation.
“We are not where we should be in sports. So, all hands must be on deck to improve on our fortunes,” the SSG added.