Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state has assured sport Fans in the state of nothing less than 100 gold medals in the coming edition of the National Sports Festival coming up next year in Delta State.
Makinde said this on Saturday at the closing ceremony of the Oyo State Junior Golf Clinic held at the Ibadan Golf Club.
The governor expressed deep delight at the sterling performance of Team Oyo at the just concluded National Sports Festival in Edo State, attributing the success of the athletes to his administration’s investments in sports.
“The return of our investment is clearly seen at the Sports Festival in Edo State, with the 31 gold medals won by the state contingent. Oyo were just a point behind heavy weights, Lagos State. We won 16 in 2018 in Abuja. This year, we won 31 in Edo. In the next edition in Delta, we will win 100 gold medals”, the sport loving Governor predicted.
Engr. Makinde while emphasizing on the importance of sports in the development of the nation declared that the Swimming pool in the newly upgraded Adamasingba sport complex in Ibadan will be ready soon to accommodate swimmers.
“Sports development is a way we think we can engage youths in Oyo State. This is the reason, Government is doing everything possible to upgrade sports facilities and attract talents to them. I called the contractor working on the swimming pool and asked him to hasten up and deliver an Olympic standard swimming pool on time, so that we can compete favourably with other states in swimming’, Makinde said.
The State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Asiwaju Seun Fakorede while speaking at the sporting event praised the Initiator of the programme, Tobi Oyewumi for organizing the golf clinic. Fakorede appreciated the privilege he had to witness the development of sports under Governor Makinde.
The Initiator of the Golf Clinic also earned praises from the Captain of Ibadan Golf Club, Mr. Ola Ibironke, who further commended Governor Makinde for remodeling Lekan Salami Stadium.
The Architect of the Golf Clinic, who is also the Special Assistant to Governor Makinde on Sports Development, stressed the importance of golf in the well-being of men and women.
Oyewumi disclosed that he organized the golf clinic to discover and nurture talents. He thanked the Governor for supporting him and for giving him the opportunity to serve young people in his administration.
“I know the importance of discovering young talents. That’s why we’re organising this golf clinic, with the support of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde. I believe the clinic will help sharpen the skills of young golfers who participated in this exercise. I urge the golfers to make use of what they learned at the clinic”, Oyewumi stated.
Oyewumi announced that the Golf Clinic and Tournament will be an annual event, and will boost golf in the pacesetter state which won her first National Sports Festival medal in golf event in 15 years at Edo 2020.
The six-day Golf Clinic, which teed off on Monday 12th of April 2021, with more than 100 children between the ages of 6 and 17 introduced to the game of golf, also featured a Competition which produced winners in various categories.
The winners, including Segun Ibironke, who led the pack in the Age 13-17 category, were given trophies.
