The National Lottery Trust Fund, (NLTF) recently donated Sports equipment worth millions of naira to 42 primary schools in Osun State.
The equipment presented to these schools includes Basketball, Football, Volleyball and Handball, Badminton, Athletics, Taekwondo, Judo, Table tennis.
Speaking during the presentation ceremony at the Ataoja School of science, Osogbo, the Executive Secretary of NLTF Engr. Habu Gumel, said the equipment was for the advancement and promotion of sports development, education, social services, public welfare and relief.
Gumel also said that the equipment is primarily to enhance the nation’s capacity to grow and expand its talent-base by the interest and involvement of the children of primary schools across the state.
He tasked the teachers to make good use of the equipment given to them as well as ensure its safety so as not to get stolen, saying that the agency has alerted security personnels to apprehend any culprit who divert these material for other use.
He added that he is optimism that the NLTF intervention programme will lead to the discovery of new talents in the nearest future, reaffirming that the that President Muhammadu Buhari led administration is committed to advancing and promoting grassroot sports development in the country.
The Zonal Coordinator, South West Zone, NLTF, Hajiya Buhari Ajara, said the essence of the intervention is to promote grassroot sports development in the country with the specific objectives of enhancing the capacity of the nation to grow and expand her talent base by securing the interest and involvement of children of primary schools in sporting activities.
Hajiya Ajara, noted that the programme is expected to improve the nation’s future performance in sports at all levels by harnessing the potentials of our young talents and nurture their transition to world class athletes, sports men and women.
In his remarks, governor Rauf Aregbesola said the state government holds education to a high esteem and will do anything to develop Sports through education.
The governor who was represented by the state commissioner for Education, Mr Wasiu Kola Olatunde Young promised the NLTF board that the state will make good use of the equipment and then asked board to do more for primary schools in the state.
The National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF) was established under the National Lottery Act 2005 and it formally commenced operations on 23rd November 2006.
Packaged by Bunmi Oladejo
