Lagos Deputy Governor wants more support for local sports

Lagos Deputy Governor wants more support for local sports

Festival
By Oluwatope Lawanson
Lagos, Sept. 24, 2019 (NAN) The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, has stressed the need to support local sporting activities in Nigeria in order to  maximize the social and economic benefits of sports.

The deputy governor made the remark when the organising committee of the  Western Nigeria Heads of Service Football Festival (WNFF) paid him a courtesy call in his office at Alausa.

He noted that sport was not only for entertainment but also an avenue to galvanise unity and urged individuals to be more interested and involved in supporting local teams.

“For us in Lagos State, sport is important. It is a money spinner, therefore, Lagos is highly involved supporting in sporting activities,“ the deputy governor said.

In his remarks, Chairman of WNFF organising committee, Mr Seyi Akinwunmi, said that the football festival among the civil servants was aimed at further strengthening the integration of Nigeria’s southwest states.

“To bring back the lost glory of sporting activities, the Western Nigeria Heads of Service Football Festival in partnership with the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission will hold among civil servants in South Western states.

“We are here to intimate the deputy governor about the festival and urge the Lagos State Government to support the initiative.

“This is an opportunity for the six states of western Nigeria, comprising Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Lagos, to come together under one umbrella.

“Sport is a veritable tool for unity and integration, therefore, it must be imbibed for national development,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports (NAN) reports that two trophies to be won at the festival coming up sometime in November were presented to the deputy governor.

NAN reports that representatives of Heads of Service of Ekiti, Ondo and Oyo states were present.

Others included the Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr Kweku Tandor, SWAN Chairmen for Lagos and Oyo, Mr Debo Osundun and Mr Niyi Alebiosu; President, Nigeria Referee Association, Chief Tade Azeez and former Super Eagles player, Femi Opabunmi. (NAN)

LAW/VIV/WOJ
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Editing by Vivian Ihechu/Wale Ojetimi

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