Ondo State Government has called on well meaning individuals to complement government’s effort at harnessing youth potentials and developing sports especially at the grassroots.
Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Bamidele Ologunloluwa made the call while reeling off the State’s achievements in sports and youth activities in the State over the last months.
The commissioner assured of Sunshine Stars’ readiness to clinch a continental ticket at the Nigeria Premier Football League NPFL Super Six.
He lauded Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for giving the youths a platform to explore their potentials and said salaries and match bonuses of players of Sunshine Stars Football Club are paid as and when due to boost their morale.
While noting that Sunshine Stars and Sunshine Queens Football Club are given the required attention to excel in major competitions, he called on investors for partnership to uphold the football teams.
“I have often times been misunderstood over the sale of Sunshine Stars. What the government said was to partner with interested investors and not outright sale of the club.”
“What we need is an investor that would partner us to reduce the financial burden from the government.”
“The name and the home ground of the team must remain even as we are of the view that government should not be involved in sports business 100 percent.”
The Sports Commissioner said the shelved Ondo State Sports Festival will be revived to accommodate activities that will showcase talents at the grassroots for international recognition.
“For the umpteenth time, I am calling on private individuals and corporate bodies to join hands with the government to develop sports”
He revealed that Ondo State athletes have made the State proud in major competitions stressing the two Guinness World Record holders in rope skipping, Philip Solomon and Gbenga Ezekiel as well as Mati Taiwo who has moved up in table tennis world rankings.
Ologunloluwa also revealed that his Ministry has trained youths on various skill acquisition programmes especially at the secondary school level and also supported the National Youths Service Corps for empowerment and national cohesion.
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