Osifeso calls for concerted efforts in nation’s sports development
A fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) and Chairman, Macpotec Nigeria Limited, Surveyor (Dr.) Segun Osifeso, has called for the concerted efforts of all Nigerians towards the search for a sustainable growth and attainment of articulate policies in the nation’s sports sector.
Osifeso made this remark on Wednesday during the opening ceremony of the second edition of the annual Ota Police Area Command football championship, held at the Nigerian Distilleries Limited, Ota, Ogun State sports ground.
The Macpotec boss, who doubled as the special guest of honour and representative of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, described sport as a major unifying factor in Nigeria and appealed to Nigerians to join hands with the Government in the task of implementing programmes and policies aimed at grassroots sports development.
He, however, noted that sport was not only an effective catalyst for promoting ideals crucial for peaceful and locally-driven development, but also a powerful tool to strengthen social ties and networks and therefore charged the Government to do everything to encourage the nation’s sports men and women, as well as evolve policies that would discover new sports talents in the country.
Osifeso further counselled the Government to create the much needed enabling environment for sports growth and also give necessary support to organisations and individuals with genuine interest geared towards the development of the nation through the instrumentality of sports.
The fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, who stressed that sport enhances people’s unity, togetherness and cohesion, commended the Ota Police Area Command for investing in the men and officers of the Nigeria Police with the annual football championship.
He, however, expressed optimism that at the end of the competition, the purposes of which were to, among other things, improve the skills of men and officers of the Area Command, promote good relations and mutual understanding between the Police and members of the various communities under the jurisdiction of the Area Command and also to discover new sports talents for future national and international tournaments, would have been realised.
The Macpotec boss equally acknowledged both the Ogun State Government’s ongoing efforts to upgrade the MKO Abiola and Muda Lawal stadia in Abeokuta to international standards and its aggressive sports development efforts, which were aimed at discovering and nurturing new talents in athletics, table tennis, football and other sports
