By Lekan Adegoke
The Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke says he is set to make the state to have best sporting facilities among its counterparts in Nigeria.
The Governor stated this in Osogbo, the State Capital during the groundbreaking/ flagg-off of the development and remodeling of Osogbo stadium sports complex.
The Governor who decried the terrible condition of the stadium when he came on board, said this spurred him to make remarkable changes that can boost sports development in Osun.
He said that the project is not mere renovation but re-development and remodeling of the State Sports Stadium to attain global standard, emphasizing that when the project is complete, it will have the capacity to host various sporting events such as the National sports Festival, National Youth Games and more importantly to host some of the national teams including Super Eagles in their various continental and International matches.
“The remodeling of the stadium will include pitches for other games such as Volleyball, Swimming, Handball, Hockey, Basketball and a host of other. It will also have a befitting indoor sports hall, hostels for the athletes and a state-of-art 4-star hotel, in order to generate revenue into the entire project to ensure sustainability and short and long term viability.”
Governor Adeleke stressed that in order to have a fully articulated sport development agenda, his administration is putting up institutional structures like creation of Osun Sports Commission, creating a Sport Trust Fund which according to him has reached the final stage, so as to enhance harmonious development and administration of all games in the state.
He assured that the welfare of sports men and women is paramount in his agenda as the Government has decided to reward all athletes who made the state proud at various championships.
While advising the two state teams, Osun United and Osun Babes Football Clubs to do well in their various sports to encourage the Government to do more for them, the Governor charged the citizens of the state to join hands with the present administration to take sports to an enviable height.
Earlier in his address of welcome, the State Deputy Governor who also doubles as the Commissioner for Sports, Prince Kola Adewusi commended the Governor for giving the sports promotion a priority.
He explained that the reason for remodeling the stadium is to develop sports and talented young minds in the State, adding that when the work is completed, it will put sports into proper shape in Osun, just as he said Governor Adeleke has ordered that no political or religious activities should be allowed to take place on the main pitch.
