Government at all level have been urged to harness potentials in sporting activities for the economic development of the people and communities.
The founder of Schools Sports Foundation, Mr Yomi Elijah, gave the advice, noting that sports are veritable platforms for discovering talents, empowering and engaging the youths meaningfully as well as generating more revenues.
UK trained coach spoke in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, at a press conference heralding the 2024 Ekiti State Governor Cup, a football competition for secondary schools students in the state
The football tournament organised by the foundation in conjunction with Ekiti State government is sponsored by the Perculiar Ultimate Concerns .
Elijah said the competition which had earlier been held in Oyo and Osun States was designed to empowering Nigerian schools through organised sports.
“Governments stands to gain a lot in terms of revenue generation by investing in grassroots sports development and empowering the youths through their engagement in sporting activities.
“There will be scholarships for the talents discovered abroad as well as football academy to engage them within and outside the country”
In her address, the technical advisor on sports to the governor, Dr. Mrs. Olusola Osetoba, described the initiative as a welcome development with great transformative impact.
“The Ekiti Governors Cup is more than just a competition. It is a crucible for identifying and nurturing raw talent, instilling values of discipline, teamwork, and excellence in our young athletes”.
Dr. Osetoba explained that the broader vision of the tournament is to foster a culture of sportsmanship while offering a stepping stone for budding talents to reach professional heights.
“This competition is a bridge between dreams and reality for many of our youths.”
In his remarks, chairman, Ekiti State Football Association, Chief Oluwole Oloworemo, expressed hope that the tournament would reignite the spirit behind the old principal cup and provide a robust platform for young talents to shine.
He said, “Our aim is not just to win trophies but to create opportunities. We want these students to dream big and have the tools to achieve those dreams.
“In my youth, local competitions like this were the lifeblood of our communities. They were more than just games; they were festivals of unity and pride,” he recalled with nostalgia”.
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