The Commissioner for Youth and Sports in Oyo State, Mr Abayomi Oke, said that the state government would overhaul sporting activities and it would be no longer be business as usual.
Oke stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Ibadan.
He expressed government’s commitment to a total overhaul of sports from the ward to the state levels and sought the support of all stakeholders.
NAN reports that Oke and other commissioners were, on June 17, sworn in by Gov. Abiola Ajimobi.
He urged sports associations and stakeholders to come up with proposals that would develop sports in the state.
“I am interested in youth and age-group sports, particularly the under 13 and 17. I want to see sports development through organisation of competition at the ward, local government and state levels.
“This is going to be with private sector involvement. We will leverage on contacts, contributions and support.
“We will imbibe the sports development model of Lagos. I have linked up with Lagos to garner such ideas and we will implement such here too to develop sports in the state,’’ he said.
Oke said that the ministry was ready to partner with stakeholders in bringing investors to develop infrastructure and the various categories of sports across the state.
The commissioner said that the ministry was also working with the managements of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), Crown Football Club, Oyo Football Association and the Supporter’s Club on the development of football in the state.
He attributed salaries owed the state football club players to paucity of funds in the country.
The commissioner said that government was working toward the payment of the outstanding match bonuses of the players.
“We have met with the Supporter’s Club and we are thinking of how we can run football through self-funding. We have identified that government cannot do it alone.
“We will ensure that we develop our football and other games to standard. We would not leave female football out of this.
“We are appealing to sports stakeholders and enthusiasts to support us in the development of sports across the state. The support is not limited to football but other sports,’’ NAN quotes him as saying.
Oke, however, said that the governor frowned at the mismanagement of the gate-takings at the stadium during matches, adding that it was not going to be business as usual.
“The governor frowned at the way monies generated from league matches were going into one man’s pocket,’’ he said.
Oke urged the media to ensure excellent and accurate reportage, saying that his door was opened for proposals, synergy, comments and reactions on various sport issues.
The commissioner assured the media of a comfortable press box at the stadium, adding that a facelift of the box was ongoing. (NAN)