The Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, has assured youths interested in sports in the state that Governor Biodun Oyebanji is resolute to strengthen the sport sector to develop the potentials of the productive population.
Mrs Afuye described sport as not only a money-spinning venture, but a profession that can give honour and dignity to interested individual, which she said makes it deserved of being accorded a priority on the list of well-funded government’s programmes .
She assured that Governor Oyebanji won’t spare any effort to make all the categories of sports highly attractive to youths through proper funding to boost their careers.
The Ekiti’s number two citizen, gave the assurance, on Wednesday, while being presented with the Certificate of Participation in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Region 25 Sport Festival, held on the 1st of July, 2023, at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado Ekiti.
Addressing the leadership of the RCCG and organisers of the sport fiesta, Mrs Afuye, in a statement by her Media Aide, Victor Ogunje, applauded the church for keying into the Governor Oyebanji’s vision and perspective that sports remained a veritable instrument to combat unemployment, poverty and crime.
She said: “Let me appreciate the church for organising a soccer festival to promote sports, especially the catch them young policy of government.
“If you go round our primary and secondary schools across Ekiti, you will see that gradual and steady development is being made in sports.
“Governor Oyebanji showed interest in this because all the nations that are doing well in one sport took interest in the establishment of sports academies to promote sports at the grassroots.
“Go and look at the policy thrust of this administration, Sport and Youth Development is a whole Pillar. In the olden days our parents didn’t normally allow us to participate in sporting activities, but the trend has changed.
“Sports can make one a billionaire and breadwinner of his family, so our government is ready to support any initiative that is geared towards developing the sector”.
Mrs Afuye advised the men of God to pray relentlessly for the current government, saying their spiritual support had helped in keeping Governor Oyebanji in high spirit to deliver on his promises to the people.
Presenting the certificate to the Deputy Governor, the RCCG Director of Sports, Region 25, Pastor Sesan Adewumi, prayed for the success of the Oyebanji’s administration.
Adewumi assuring that the church will continue to initiate programmes that will complement government’s actions and help in building the youth capacities.
The Cleric added that Mrs Afuye’s participation in the sporting activity organised by the Church substantiated how admirably passionate Governor Oyebanji was to sport promotion and development .