Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has commended the Lagos State Sports Trust Fund (LSSTF) for exceeding the expectations of its founders. Sanwo-Olu, represented by the state's Commissioner for Youth Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, made the commendation during the distribution of equipment to the 57 local councils and local council development areas. The governor noted that the LSSTF had delivered and even surpassed the expectations set for them a year ago.
The LSSTF was established to harness the huge youth population for society's benefit. Sanwo-Olu stated that his administration believes sports is not a luxury, but a necessity and a critical pillar of their Themes+ Agenda, especially youth engagement, social inclusion, and health. The governor emphasized that engaging youths in sports takes them away from the streets and crime, making them an asset to Lagos.
The distribution of equipment to the local councils is part of the LSSTF's grassroots development efforts. Sanwo-Olu highlighted that the initiative is about three key things: security and youth engagement, talent discovery, and health and education. He noted that Lagos is blessed with abundant talent and that the next Victor Osimhen, Tobi Amusan, or Anthony Joshua will be discovered in the local government areas, not in Europe.
The LSSTF has made significant interventions in the sports sector recently. The Chairman of LSSTF, Wahid Enitan Oshodi, listed some of the interventions, including the complete rehabilitation of the Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba, and the procurement and distribution of sports equipment to schools and tertiary institutions. Oshodi stated that today's distribution to the 57 LGs and LCDAs is the next phase of that grassroots revolution.
The equipment distributed includes table tennis boards, basketball stands and hoops, football and other sports equipment. Each local council will receive a complete set of sports equipment tailored for various sports. This will empower Local Sports Officers and School Games Masters to revive inter-street, inter-ward, and inter-LCDA competitions.
Sanwo-Olu charged the local council chairmen to activate their Local Organising Committees and rekindle Inter-Ward and Inter-School competitions. He also called on the private sector to support the sports trust fund model, reiterating that the government cannot shoulder the responsibility of developing sports alone.
The governor's representative and LSSTF members joined in handing over the equipment to the local councils. This is the second phase of the LSSTF's grassroots intervention this year, after the distribution of sports equipment to 1,020 public primary schools and the total rehabilitation of Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba.
Key points
- The Lagos State Sports Trust Fund (LSSTF) has exceeded expectations in its efforts to harness the youth population for society's benefit.
- The distribution of equipment to local councils is part of the LSSTF's grassroots development efforts, focusing on security and youth engagement, talent discovery, and health and education.
- The governor has called on the private sector to support the sports trust fund model, emphasizing that the government cannot develop sports alone.
