Commissioner reiterates government’s support for sports, as Lagos Sports Commission inaugurates new Sports Associations

The Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Hon Segun Dawodu has reiterated government’s support for sports in Lagos State. He stated this at the inauguration of the newly reconstituted Boards for the 43 Lagos State Sports Associations, in a brief Ceremony on Wednesday, at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Commissioner reiterates government’s support for sports, as Lagos Sports Commission inaugurates new Sports Associations
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Lagos State Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Hon Segun Dawodu
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Executive Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, Sola Aiyepeku,
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L-R: Executive Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr. Sola Aiyepeku, Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Hon Segun Dawodu and Director General of the Commission Mr. Toyin Gafarr at the inauguration of the newly reconstituted Boards for the 43 Lagos State Sports Association on Wednesday.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Hon Segun Dawodu has reiterated government’s support for sports in Lagos State. He stated this at the inauguration of the newly reconstituted Boards for the 43 Lagos State Sports Associations, in a brief Ceremony on Wednesday, at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

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Dawodu said “We congratulate the newly appointed board members and look forward to their positive contribution to sports development in Lagos”.

” You have a lot of work to do collectively to come up with series of sustainable sports programs”.

“We know you can,” he averred.

The Oaths were administered by Mrs. Titilayo Bashorun, representative of the Director Legal Drafting, Ministry of Justice.

Three new Associations were added to the existing 40 Sports Associations in the state bringing the total number to 43 with a total number of 277 Members as part of the Government’s plan to reposition Lagos as the hub of Sports and focus more on the girl child.

The new Sports Associations added are Monopoly, (added to Scrabble to form the Lagos State Scrabble and Monopoly Association), Lagos State Netball Association, Lagos State E-sports Association and the Cheerleading Association.

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Some Chairmen of the Sports Associations retained their positions, namely, Athletics, Handball, Basketball, Taekwondo, Hockey, Gymnastics, Golf, Deaf Sports and Cricket, while the Lagos State Football Association adheres to FIFA Election Statutes to decide fresh members.

It will be recalled that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu approved the dissolution of the former Boards in order to rejig and reposition the activities of all the Sports Associations in Lagos, in line with the vision to become the Sports hub not only in Nigeria but Africa.

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The newly inaugurated Lagos State Deaf Sports Association led by Mrs. Adeola Adewole (Middle), Director General Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr Toyin Gafarr (3rd Left) in a photograph with some members of the association and coaches

In the opening remark, the Executive Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, Sola Aiyepeku, disclosed that the new Sports Association Board members were painstakingly selected to refocus and change the face of Sports in Lagos State.

We are glad to welcome you all and hope to have a better relationship’ he added.

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The newly inaugurated Lagos State Deaf Sports Association in a group photograph with some coaches and athletes

He opined that a perception about Government being the sole financier of Sporting events had to change, urging the new Sports Associations to work independently of Government to source private sector financing and sponsorships to enable them to meet the target of holding/ organising at least two Sporting events each per quarter.

He also charged all Association Chairmen to come up with a detailed plan for each Association in order to drive the Commission better.

“We want to make sure that sports in Lagos is alive”, Aiyepeku concluded.

The Honorable Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Barrister Segun Dawodu urged the newly reconstituted Boards to do more to take sports to the next in Lagos State.

” You have a lot of work to do collectively to come up with series of sustainable sports programs”.

“We know you can “. He concluded.

Also speaking at the inauguration, the Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission, Oluwatoyin Gafaar, said that the new Sports Associations Boards members were carefully selected to develop, drive, and sustain Sports in Lagos State.

He assured that the Lagos State Sports Commission would give all the necessary support to make their assignment of developing Sports at the grassroots in Lagos State a success, further stating that he was expecting a tremendous improvement in all aspects from all association Chairmen.

Responding on behalf of the new boards of Sports Associations, Mrs. Abimbola Lawal, Chairperson, Lagos State Traditional Sports Association who is also member of the Board of Lagos State Sports Commission assured that all the sports associations would do their best to meet up with the mandate given by the State Sports Commission.

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