The Lagos State Government today said it has earmark 12 billion naira for the development of sports in 2017.Special Adviser and Chairman Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr. Deji Tinubu made this known at the on-going Lagos State 2017 ministerial press briefing . He said 9.6 billion naira will be spent on construction in Lagos while 3 billion naira will be spent on sports development.
Tinubu in his address to the press said Governor Akinwumi Ambode plans to make Lagos Africa’s sports hub by creating and sustaining a sports culture through the development of grassroots sports.
He said the State government has initiated and implemented new programmes that will enable the Commission to discover and mentor new talents, give athletes necessary support, improve and expand sports facilities and build sports culture among school in Lagos.
According to him, the State government has increased the number of sporting events and activities in some Lagos schools, just as it hasengaged much more in organized sports with a standardized calendar in order to take the of students minds off socially non-acceptable pursuits.
“Some of such events is the Heritage Bank Secondary Skoolimpics (Athletics competition), Bestman Games (Monopoly), Rugby and Cycling”, he said.
To further entrench Sports culture in communities, he said the Government is embarking on the Sports Connect Initiative by taking sports back to the communities, adding that under the initiative there will be data collection of all schools within the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas to identify school spaces for sportingactivities.
Deji Tinubu also explained that the State’s ban on parties in school premises was to allow for more sporting activities and open up more doors for children to explore, discover and develop their talents.
The Special Adviser averred that sports for the physically challenged are also included in sporting events organized by the State, noting that the intention is to hold a Paralympics Soccerevent soon.
He also disclosed the State Government’s plan to renovate the National Stadium and bring backits original glory befitting the Centre of Excellence.
