The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has promised to increase investments in sports, build and rehabilitate existing facilities in a bid to engage and create jobs for the youths across the state.
Makinde said that the investment would help motivate youths to leave vices, embrace whichever sports that suit them, and discover their hidden talents in the state.
The governor disclosed the plans on Wednesday at the inauguration of the Lekan Salami Stadium in Adamasingba, Ibadan which was attended by the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, his Ondo and Edo counterparts, Rotimi Akeredolu, who was also a former Chairman of Shooting Stars supporters Club, and Godwin Obaseki.
He said the inaugurated main bowl was the first phase, noting that the other phases of the facility would soon be completed in spite of some challenges being faced by the administration including the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
The governor added that other phases of the facility that were expected for completion soon would afford sports associations the opportunity to organise both local and international tournaments in the state.
Makinde stated that aside from tournaments, youths that have embraced sports aside from football would be able to train and sharpen their skills as they aimed to compete favourably with their peers globally.
He noted that his plans were to ensure all sporting facilities within the state become functional and accessible to youths that have considered sports as an avenue to achieve their dream and contribute their quota to Oyo development.
According to him, we are currently rehabilitating and remodelling the Durbar Stadium in Oyo, Soun stadium in Ogbomoso, Saki Township stadium, Isehin township stadium, and Igbo-Ora township stadium and they will be completed soon.
Makinde, who was reacting to appeal from residents on completion of the ongoing projects, stressed that the administration would fix the other Stadia in the different geopolitical zones across the state.
The governor noted that the ongoing construction was not for aesthetics, rather to motivate the youths, irrespective of their location, to discover their talent and go ahead to compete across the world.
He, meanwhile, commended the people of Oyo State and the different officials of his administration for keeping the flag flying, promising that “we shall not let you down”.
