Lagos earmarks N12.6bn for sport facilities, development

The Special Adviser and Chairman Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr. Deji Tinubu has disclosed that the Ambode-led administration intends to make Lagos Africa’s sports hub by creating and sustaining a sports culture through the development of grassroots sports.

He said the state had earmarked N12.6 billion for sports facilities and development this year alone. He said N9.6 billion was geared toward sports facilities, in order to boost sports and the commitment of N3 billion for the development of sports in the state, adding that this was to ensure the state ranked top in sporting development in the country.

He stressed that the state government had initiated and implemented new programmes that would enable the Commission to discover and mentor new talents, give athletes necessary support, improve and expand sports facilities and build a sports culture among school children.

According to him, the state government had increased the number of sporting events and activities in some Lagos schools, just as it had engaged much more in organized sports with a standardized calendar in order to take the minds if students off socially non-acceptable pursuits.

“Some of such events is the Heritage Bank Secondary Skoolimpics (Athletics competition), Bestman Games (Monopoly), Rugby and Cycling,” he said.

To further entrench a sports culture in communities, he said the government was embarking on the Sports Connect Initiative by taking sports back to the communities, adding that under the initiative there will be data collection of all schools within the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas to identify school spaces for sporting activities.

Tinubu also explained that the state’s ban on parties in school premises was to allow for more sporting activities and open up more doors for children to explore, discover and develop their talents.

The Special Adviser averred that sports for the physically challenged were also included in sporting events organized by the state, noting that the intention was to hold a Paralympics Soccer event soon.

He also disclosed the state government’s plan to renovate the National Stadium and bring back its original glory befitting the Centre of Excellence.