The Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to sports development, saying his government will develop the four mini-stadiums in the state to international standard.
Oyebanji who stated this during his visit to Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado- Ekiti also stressed the need to make sporting activities attractive to youths by creating an enabling environment for sportsmen and women to thrive.
The Governor, who was conducted round the sports facilities by the General Manager of the State Sports Council, Mr Kunle Adeyemi, also assured that he would fulfil his campaign promises to elevate the current Sports Council to a full-fledged Sports Commission.
He, therefore, said all the major sporting infrastructure in the state including the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, as well as those in Ikere, ijero and Ikole would be totally overhauled as part of efforts aimed at achieving the desired goals.
Oyebanji added that new state of art equipment would also be provided to aid sports development, stressing that sports have become a powerful and veritable tool for youth development.
“With more facilities in place, our sportsmen and women will achieve greater feats in different fields. We intend to use sports to open doors for talented youths to build successful careers. Most importantly, we will reposition the Ekiti State Sports Trust Fund to increase overall investment in sporting activities” he said.
The General Manager of the State Sports Council, Mr. Kunle Adeyemi, lauded the Governor for what he described as “starting strong”, noting that his visit to the stadium was an indication of his dedication to development of sports in the State.
He also solicited the continued support of the new administration to efforts of the sports council to nurture youngsters to become great sportsmen to help in achieving the set goals.
Adeyemi, therefore, pledged the commitment of management and staff of the council to the success of the administration and sports development in the state.
