The Commissioner of Sports in Oyo State, Barrister Yomi Oke has commended the organizers of the Ona-Ara Sports Festival, Ilaji Stadium and Resource Centre and Ona-Ara Local Government for the level of sports facilities put in place to ensure success of the event.
Barrister Yomi Oke, who led other government officials from the Ministry of Youth and Sports and Oyo State Sports Council to the venue of the proposed sports festival, gave the commendation shortly after the inspection of facilities put in place for the event at the stadium, located at Akanran in Ona-Ara Local Government.
The Sports Commissioner stated that the facilities on ground at the Ilaji Stadium and Resource Centre are very impressive and worthy to be commended. He expressed that this kind of initiative from a single private individual will go a long way in driving other private investors to take part in the development of the state.
Barrister Yomi Oke reiterated the readiness of state government to partner with any private investor that is ready to key into development agenda of the present government in the state. He pointed out that the active role of Ona-Ara Local Government in collaboration with Ilaji Stadium and Resource Centre in the organization of the sports games is enough to confirm government’s commitment towards the success of the event.
The Commissioner noted that the presence of state government’s officials at the stadium was to ascertain the quality of facilities put in place by the organizers and look into areas where they would need advice and support to ensure compliance with international standards.
Barrister Oke urged the local government to make use of the facilities put in place by Ilaji Stadium and Resource Centre to discover talents that will lift the sports glory of the local government.
Speaking with PMparrot, Chairman, Ona-Ara Local Government, Hon. Biliamin Aderemi Ogundele stated that the target of the games festival is to discover talents that will represent the state at various competitions and win laurels not only for the state but also for the country.
He emphasized that the initiative by the Ilaji Stadium and Resource Centre was not only first of its kind in Oyo State but Nigeria as a whole. Hon. Ogundele added that the proposed sports festival by the local government was also the first initiative in the sports arena that would happen in the country.
He enjoined well-meaning indigenes of the state to use their wealth to develop their various local government areas.
The Engineer in charge of the project, Babatunde Akinola confirmed that the completion of the various on-going projects in the stadium has been scheduled for this year’s December, while the proposed Sports Festival will hold next year February.
Some of the facilities inspected included Football Pitch, Swimming Pool, Volley Ball Court, Tennis Court, Basket Ball Court, Children’s Recreation Centre, and Rest Rooms for home and away teams, as well as Guest House consisting of Conference Hall and Press Gallery. Site of nine in-door games was also inspected by the commissioner’s team.
Packaged by Kunle Gazali
