The Ekiti Government has assured of its commitment to sports development and to identify and nurture athletes in the state to become national and international champions.
The Technical Adviser to the Governor on Sports Development, Dr Olusola Osetoba, gave the assurance during a roundtable meeting with members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in Ekiti state.
Osetoba said that Gov. Biodun Oyebanji since assumption of office two years ago had achieved much in sports including the upgrade of the Sports Council to a Commission.
Other achievements listed included introduction of payment of stipends to athletes and employment of coaches and technical officials.
The adviser said that some of the measures taken by the government was to prevent poaching of its athletes by other state.
She further said that the government had restructured the two state owned football clubs and employ new technical crew for both clubs.
“I am delighted to inform SWAN that governor Oyebanji is committed to the development of sports and encourage youths participation in various sports.
“In his two years in office, he has revived various sports and empowered the state athletes to become formidable and outstanding in their various specialised sports.
“Hostel accommodation with good furnitures has been provided for Ekiti Queens FC to boost their work rate in training and performance in the league.
“To crown it all, Oyebanji has just laid the foundation for construction of 900 seat Indoor sports hall of International standard, which will accommodate no fewer than 16 sports,”she said.
Osetoba urged youths, sports writers and indigenes of Ekiti to support the various sporting agenda of the Oyebanji-led administration.
