Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has charged athletes representing the state at the 2022 National Sports Festival to make the state proud by winning laurels, saying all medallists shall be bountifully rewarded.
Governor Adeleke gave the charge at the Osogbo Township Stadium on Tuesday while addressing contingent who were leaving for Asaba.
The Governor who spoke through Hon. Kamorudeen Ajisafe assured athletes that it was a new dawn in Osun as the present administration values and understands youth and sports sector hence the need to invest in it.
He said “the new administration will prioritize athletes welfare, provide quality material and equipment needed to excel and bring back the lost glory of sports in Osun.
“It is sad that we don’t have a befitting stadium, buses are old and our athletes are suffering of fund and lacking quality equipment to train. The news that used to fly around about our teams were always sad and this is a sign of negligence of the sector by the last administration. We are here to correct this and I can assure you that sports in Osun will be rebranded.”
“A new era has come. We will make things work and revive all categories of sports in the state through several grassroots competitions to be able to produce stars that can reach the international podium,” said Hon. Ajisafe
In their separate remarks, leader of the contingent, Coach Lekan Adediran and the Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, Islamiyat Yusuf appreciated efforts of the new government for the release of fund and assured that the contingent would bring back laurels to welcome the Governor.
About 152 delegates comprising athletes and officials would represent Osun State at the event which had been declared open in Asaba, Delta state by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare. Over 11, 000 athletes across the federation will participate at the event.
