As part of efforts geared at harnessing the potential of youths towards the development of the country, the Ogun State government has been charged to domesticate sports leagues and competitions across all levels in the state.
This charge was given at the grand finale of the maiden edition of the Ayetoro Sports Festival organised by the Gbenga Akinwande Foundation in collaboration with the National Association of Primary Schools Games and Sports Teachers in Ayetoro.
Stakeholders present at the event identified sports as an important tool to complement education in harnessing the talents of youths for development.
Speaking at the event, the president of the foundation, Engr. Gbenga Akinwande urged the government to initiate a comprehensive strategy for sports development instituting sports competitions at the grassroots to enhance sports development among our youths.
He disclosed that such a strategy was necessary because sports and education are vehicles for socio-economic development at the grassroots level.
He also revealed that his organisation had been supporting sports development and preparing youths for future challenges across all levels, hence the decision to support the festival.
He said: “Nine years ago, the Gbenga Akinwande Foundation came into corporate existence. The organisation was founded with the hope to foster unity and improve the socio-economic development of Ogun West, using sports and education to stimulate the youth, to prepare them for future challenges. In achieving these objectives, we have provided scholarships for some of our indigent students, hosted the first Yewa-Awori Nations Cup, the Yewa Community Cup, and provided succour for many of our people during the COVID-19 outbreak.
“My decision to agree to sponsor this 1st edition of Ayetoro Youths’ Sports Festival when the request came from our primary schools’ teachers was borne out of my desire for grassroots youth development, using sports and education as a vehicle for socio-economic development.”
While commending the Ogun State government for efforts made so far, Akinwande called on the government and parents to collaborate on ensuring sports can be used to develop the grassroots and enhance community participation in governance.
“As an individual, there is a limit to what I can do, but government must come up with a comprehensive strategy for sports development. To enhance sports development among our youths, I will propose that the government should create local government, senatorial, and state leagues and competitions. These ideas, if well-conceived and funded, will bring economic prosperity and development to the grassroots and enhance communities’ participation in the Ogun project.
“I would appeal to our parents, not to leave everything to the government alone, but rather find ways to enhance Parents-Teachers’ Association (PTA) in temporary teachers’ recruitment, because failure to do so will have negative consequences on the students,” Akinwande concluded.
Earlier in his address, the Education Secretary of the Yewa North Local Government Education board, Elder Oyero Adeyemi Adewole, disclosed that four pupils from the town have performed well at the state level and will represent the state at national levels.
During the festival, over 65 young sports talents were discovered from football, indoor games, and track and field events.
In the finals of the football competition, Ansarudeen Primary School II defeated St Paul African Church Primary School by one goal. Ansarudeen Primary School I & III also defeated YNLG Primary School 5-nil to clinch the third spot.
Meanwhile, African Church Primary School emerged overall best having won five gold medals, two silver medals and three bronze medals.
Akinwande assured that with the support of his foundation, the festival will be a yearly event alongside other annual sporting events in the area.
The event was attended by the Alaye of Ayetoro, Oba Ishola Adelakun alongside; the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the local government, Adeosun Adekunle, community chiefs, leaders and members of APC, community leaders and members of the education board.
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