Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi has lauded the initiator and financier of newly constructed Ilaji Stadium and Resorts Center in Ibadan, Engr. Dotun Sanusi for investing in the youths of the state through sports, the Guardian reports.
The governor has also assured investors of his government’s collaboration and support in maintaining the sporting edifice.
Represented by the Oyo State Commissioner Youth and Sports, Yomi Oke at a unification football match between Ilaji Soccer Academy and Shining Stars FC from Ido Local Government at the new stadium located in the quiet town of Akanran, Ibadan, Ajimobi affirmed his readiness to revitalize grassroots sports in the state. He urged other well-meaning Oyo State indigenes to join his government in building a long-standing sports infrastructural base in the State.
The new stadium with facilities such as swimming pool, basketball, handball and volleyball courts, standard soccer pitch and well-equipped indoor sports hall was recently opened for public use.
Earlier the Chairman of Ilaji Stadium & Resorts Center and the owner of Ilaji Football Academy, Engr. Dotun Sanusi, expressed his satisfaction with the quality and standard displayed by both academies,while assuring the players, mostly secondary schools students, of his adequate support in making them realizing their dream.
The educationist urged other private sector operatives in the state to invest in grassroots football, with a view to rekindling and reviving the lost glory of the Principal Cup. He added, “By so doing they will not only be helping our society to be crime free, but will also help the country’s future leaders achieve their ambition of being useful to themselves as well as their immediate society.”
Also speaking at the event, Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela called for more support in positively engaging secondary school students, who he described as feeders of our various national football teams.
In his address, the leader of the visiting team, who is also the Chairman of Ido Local Government, Wahab Oladejo expressed his happiness at the sporting infrastructure as well as the outcome of the match.
