Oyebanji Vows To Commit More Resources To Sports Devt

Ekiti State governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has said his government would expand the scope of opportunities for Ekiti youths, who are richly endowed with requisite skills in the sports sector.

The governor added that  huge resources will be committed into sports development to develop more talents, nurture them to national and global  reckoning as well as for wealth creation.

Speaking yesterday during the groundbreaking  ceremony for the multimillion naira Indoor Sports Complex in Ado- Ekiti Oyebanji described sport as a veritable weapon to stamp out poverty,  joblessness and crime from the society,

He said the project is in firm alignment with the Human Capital Development; and Job Creation and Youth Development pillars and policy thrust  of his administration, with special focus and propensity to building  profitable careers for the productive youths in every sector of the economy.

Commending Ekiti athletes for their patriotic zeal, Oyebanji said: “I have been to the stadium, I knew you have not been  training under the most conducive conditions,  in spite of that, you are still winning laurels for Ekiti. I commend you for this.

“This project  is part of my electioneering campaign promises, which I made when I was campaigning. I promised to take sports out of the Ministry, which I have done. It is now being run as  a full  Commission.  These are the two promises I have made for you and I am fulfilling the second one today.This aligns with the Youth Development and Job Creation and Human capital development pillars of my administration .

“Our mission is to build  world champions here. We are not just building an indoor sports complex  alone, we are building a centre of excellence, where talents are discovered, nurtured and developed to the global level.

“We are going to build this facility, equip it and get the best coaches to train our youths. I don’t have any doubt about the ability of the contractor to deliver the best job for our people. To me, I consider this project a talent development center to train players for them  to gain global reckoning” .

Outlining the significance of the project, the Technical Advisor to the Governor on Sports, Dr. Olusola Osetoba, said the facility will help in engaging the youths and offer  them a veritable avenue to shine in local and international competitions.

Osetoba commended the current administration for turning sports into a sustainable career that can create wealth and fame for the youths, saying in attempt to bolster financial backing for sporting activities that Oyebanji created the Ekiti State Sports Commission to give the sector unfettered latitude to operate freely and enjoy financial independence.

“This facility will be an indoor sports facility for  Baseball, Volleyball, modern gymnasm and others. The effect will be far-reaching. It will help in fostering youth development through enabling the environment to get improved skills to participate in national  competitions.

“With this facility, we can have the opportunity to host national competitions that will boost the local economy. I am indeed glad that this administration has positioned Ekiti as a hub of sports in Nigeria”.