Sports stakeholders in Kwara state charted a new course for spots development at the birthday get-together of the Administrator of a popular online Sports Forum, Kwara Sports Arena, Ibitoye Shittu in his house in Ilorin.
In his lecture at the occasion, titled ‘Sports Development in Kwara State’, former Nigeria International, Hammed Adio appealed to the government to develop sports from the grassroots, even as he charged stakeholders to exploit the business potentials in the system.
The former Olympian and renowned journalist, who noted that school sports system was the catalyst to sports development in the olden days said all hands must be on desk to turn things around for the state, which was once referred to as the ‘Mecca of Sports’ in the country.
Adio charged sports writers to set the agenda and narratives for sports development through balanced reportage with constructive criticism, adding that sports is no longer a social service but a big business and money spinning venture.
According to him, ‘the media have a very crucial role to play by maximizing the usage of all the available information dissemination machinery in setting agenda for the sports administrators to key into, for a well developed structure that will support the growth and development of sports’, he added.
Coach Bola Magaji charged the stakeholders to take advantage of the numerous opportunities in sports in the state,
Also speaking, the Director of Football, Abubakar Bukola Saraki Football Club, Alloy Chukwuemeka said that sports stakeholders should galvanize the sector by organizing championships at the grassroots level, and also ensuring the revitalization of schools sports to identify exceptional raw talents.
Speaking in the same vein, the Chairman Kwara FA, Alhaji Idris Abdullahi Musa, the Head Coach of Kwara United FC, Coach Abdullahi Biffo and Coach Bola Magaji urged the government to provide sports facilities to schools across the state stressing that the ‘catch them young initiative’ is the only best way to turn things around in sports.
The stakeholders urged the astute sports Journalist Ibitoye Shittu to keep up his good work in developing sports in Kwara State.
The celebrant appreciates the support of all the guests at the event and call for more synergy in the development of Sports in the State.
Notable guests at the event include Nigeria Pillar of Sports, Chief Donatus Agu Ejidike, former SWAN Chairman Waheed Bibire and current SWAN Boss Jimoh Bashir, Chief Wale Alao of CBN, Mr. Ajide Olayioye, Mr. Sports, Bayour Issah, Coach Folley, Yahaya Yar’adua, Okaa Sports, Alhaji Saliu Babatunde Afase, Mr Nurudeen and others.
