The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, has described sport as a strong weapon that can be used by government to combat poverty, crime and unemployment if proper investments are made in the sector.
The Deputy Governor, said it was on the basis of this realization that sport has become a profitable venture that Governor Biodun Oyebanji was encouraging sporting activities at the primary and secondary schools to promote sports development at the grassroots .
Mrs Afuye spoke on Saturday, at the grand finale of a sporting activity organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God held at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.
The programme was attended by the Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, among other top functionaries, administrators and professionals in the sport sector.
Addressing the participants , the Deputy Governor, in a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje, said sports had helped in bailing many families out of the cankerworm of poverty globally.
Mrs Afuye added that many youths, who are supposed to be predisposed to criminal activities are now deploying their God- given talents to make legitimate monies for the development of themselves and their families when they have blossoming careers in sports.
Besides the economic benefit of sports, Mrs Afuye revealed that sport is an important activity that enhance health and well-being of the people through fitness, saying: “It is only when we are fit that we can do our businesses to make wealth”.
However, the Deputy Governor, appealed to individuals and corporate organisations to partner the state government to develop the sector, saying countries that are making profitable exploits in the sector achieved the feat through huge investments from the private investors.
She commended the RCCG for conceptualising such a sporting activitity with high propensity to boosting youth engagements and involvement in productive ventures in the state.
Mrs Afuye said: “All over the world, sport had been identified as a strong and potent weapon to defeat poverty, crime and unemployment. That was why you see countries in Europe, Asia and even some parts of Africa making huge investments in the sector.
“In Nigeria, I have that unflinching belief that cases of insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other societal crises shaking the country’s foundation can be resolved if our youths are engaged in some of these sporting activities.
“It was as a result of this that Governor Oyebanji makes Youth Development and Job Creation a whole pillar in the six-point agenda of his administration.
“Under this context, Governor Oyebanji focuses on sports as a subsector and one pivotal area of concentration to fully develop the potentials of our youths to make them relevant economically”.
Mrs Afuye added that : “Though, the government of Ekiti State has been working hard to promote sports at the primary and secondary cadres of education, but other critical stakeholders should join in ensuring adequate funding for Sporting activities, as Redeemed Christian Church of God is doing.
“We appreciate the church of God for showing serious passion for the development of sports. We charge other religious bodies, individuals and corporate organisations to collaborate with the government of Governor Oyebanji in making sport a veritable weapon to create wealth in our dear state.
“I want to use this time to commend and appreciate the organizers. I also advise our young ones to make use of this opportunity, which will in no doubt impact positively in their lives to become successful in future”.