Wale JAGUN & Kunle ADELABU
-Stakeholders call for stadium development, investment in sports, development of school sports, others at sports summit
The representative of the Ikorodu division on the board of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Prince Hakeem Gbolade Olukunga, has revealed that there is going to be a mega Ikorodu Sports Summit later in the year.
He made this revelation at the Ikorodu Division Sports Summit organized by the “Strike Team for Akinwunmi Ambode” (Ikorodu) and Change Alliance Leadership Group, at the Ikorodu Town hall on Thursday, July 12, 2018.
“This is a laudable effort by the organizer. We at the sports commission have been preparing for a summit before this came. This summit will serve as a stepping stone towards a mega sports summit that we shall be organizing later in the year”, Prince Olukunga stated.
“We shall be using it to address challenges of sports in and across the Ikorodu division. Our aim is to establish Ikorodu as hub of sports in Lagos State and bring back the lost glory of Ikorodu. We have been identifying areas we want to focus on . These are areas we are known to have excelled before in Ikorodu”, he told THE IMPACT during a chat at the summit.
He recalled his time in Ikorodu as Residents Sports Officer and how Ikorodu lost 40 acres of land meant for stadium
“I was in Ikorodu between 1984 and 1987 as the Resident Sports Officer (RSO) when God used me to record some achievements in term of sports development in Ikorodu.
“Between 1981 and 1987, Ikorodu had 40 acres of land allocated to build a stadium. It was Alhaji Solaja Alagago that facilitated the acquisition of the land for Ikorodu, at his last minutes on death bed, he told me that we should make sure that there is continuous shout of people in the stadium.
“The stadium used to host Ikorodu division league. Today, the land was re-allocated to build the Jubilee Housing Estate. That was how we didn’t have stadium in Ikorodu till date.
“But we have presented our matter before the governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, and he has promised that the construction of stadium, that would have swimming pool, athletic track and necessary indoor games, would commence in Ikorodu in January 2019. The facility would be located at the Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu main campus.
“The governor did not stop there, he also promised to upgrade existing sporting facilities in Ikorodu. Before this year runs out, Lagos State Sports Commission would commence the rehabilitation of the Igbogbo Community Stadium.
“The governor has also directed the commission to look for lands where recreational centres can be constructed. I want to use this medium to appeal to the royal fathers to endeavour to provide the lands when the time comes so that we would not lose the opportunity.
“The government is also working towards rehabilitating the mini-stadium at Ijede Local Council Development Area, which was constructed about eight years ago but has never been put to use for a day and it is now collapsing.
“I can assure the good people of Ikorodu that by this time in 2020, Ikorodu would be able to boast of a standard stadium.
Mr Kayode Tijani, a sports journalist who led the discussion, stated that sports is now a huge business which Ikorodu need to tap into.
He also called for the development of standard stadium in Ikorodu if the division is to make headway in sports.
“Sports is now a big business and we can all see what is going on at the world cup. But to make it have the desirable effects on Ikorodu, there is need to have a standard stadium in Ikorodu.
“A lot of youths are getting it very wrong these days in trying to be football players at the expense of their education. But it doesn’t work that way. Sunday Oliseh is a very good example. He was playing while at the Lagos State University (LASU). It was there that the agent saw him.
“Ikorodu is big enough to have its own stadium with necessary facilities. But we also must develop maintenance culture. Look at the National Stadium rotten away because of lack of maintenance culture. It’s a complete tragedy. Also, look at the Abuja Stadium built with N35billon but now, nothing can be done there again. It is that terrible.
“Ikorodu should develop a maintenance culture if eventually the stadium is built.
“It is quite unfortunate that Ikorodu is no more in the first tier of sports anymore even with Ikorodu United. Ikorodu needs to have a team in the biggest league in Nigeria. Ikorodu has not shown a good example despite its status and that is very wrong.
“Sports is all about business and everybody all over the world is linking sports with business. There is still so much that we can do to achieve this in Ikorodu.
“Ikorodu can look at honouring the sport personalities who have excelled like Falilat Ogunkoya, Azeezat Oshoala among others . We can bring them together for Ikorodu Sports Hall of Fame. This would also make the youths emulate them.”
Dr Kweku Tandoh, the Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, in his speech at summit, pledged the supports of the sports commission for Ikorodu.
He was represented at the summit by Mr Kayode Michael.
“The vision of this summit is very similar with that of the Lagos State Sports Commission which is to make Lagos State the hub of sports in Africa. It would be wonderful if Ikorodu can be the hub of sports in Lagos State.
“At the sports commission, we are going to support your vision so that it can be achieved” Dr Tandoh assured
He emphasised the importance of sports on individuals and the society.
“When we involve our young ones in sports, it gets them out of mischief.
“There is also an economic aspect of sports. Whenever sports activities are going on somewhere, people get patronage from sports men and spectators. Through this, more money is going into people’s pocket. Imagine having a world class stadium here with lock-up shops, event hall, cinemas etc, it would bring in a lot of money into the economy.
“Those who do well in sports are those who start in their youthful age. Whatever the outcome of this summit, two of our departments at the sports commission; sports development and school sports, should be engaged in its actualization.
“I also want to suggest that Ikorodu should look at its strength sports wise and try to develop in these areas. Not quite long ago, there was a swimming competition for secondary school students at the National Stadium and many of those that did well actually came from Ikorodu, Ajegunle etc. That shows that swimming is one of the strong point in Ikorodu. This summit may want to look into that in developing swimming capability of your people. At the end of the day, Ikorodu should be able to feed state and national teams with swimmers and in other areas.
“There has been a yearly marathon race being organized by Hon. Agunbiade and lots of runners who perform well at that marathon usually returned good time. Such young people can be encouraged and Ikorodu can also develop in this regard. Of course, you will agree with me that marathon at the international level is a great money spinner.
Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, the former Secretary to the State Government, in his welcome address delivered by Hon. Gbenga Oshin, stated that the governor of Lagos State is doing everything to develop sports in Ikorodu division by agreeing to build a stadium and rehabilitate the existing ones.
He stated that Ikorodu has produced and still parading great sports personalities in the likes of Falilat Ogunkoya, Azeezat Oshoala and Seye Ogunlewe among many others.
Alhaji Lookman Shonibare, Chairman, Ikorodu Division Football Association and Secretary, Lagos State Referee Council, in his own presentation, stated that Ikorodu has been consistently organizing divisional league and called for supports for football and other sports in term of sponsorship by privilege individuals.
Alhaji Jimoh Ogunmuyiwa, former Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA and a retired Referee, also called for serious investments in sports if Ikorodu is going to achieve its dream of becoming sports hub.
Princess Folashade Olabanji-Oba, the Vice Chairman if Ikorodu Local Government and the facilitator of the summit stated, “We, in Ikorodu, want to thank the governor of Lagos State for what he is doing in Ikorodu division, particularly in Ikorodu, and we use this summit to ask him for more.
“There are salient things that we feel that the youths in this community need to engage them productively and competitively.
“We need youth development centres and recreational facilities and things that can improve the quality of lives and bring out the best in youths in Ikorodu”, she stated.
Another speaker, Kunle Adelabu, the publisher of THE IMPACT newspaper called for return to school sports and cooperation between and among the representative of the division on the sports commission, councils and sports associations in Ikorodu division
Other speakers at the summit were Hon. Ade Bolowotan, the representative of the Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Dr Odeyemi H.J, Mr Wole Adekoya and the representative of the disabled athletes in Ikorodu among others.
Communique at the Ikorodu Sports Stakeholders Summit:
– There is need for stadium to encourage sports development in Ikorodu division.
– There is a need to upgrade the existing sports facilities across the division.
– Privileged individuals need to invest in sports.
– There is a need to facilitate sports hall of fame to honour past sports heroes and heroines and to encourage youths engaging in sports.
– Agreed that sporting activities are useful in the areas of combating crimes and other social vices.
– Ikorodu should focus on sports where it has advantage i.e swimming, table tennis, hockey, athletics, volleyball, football etc.
– There is need to go back to school sports.
– There is need for training and retraining of sports officers in schools.
– The summit also agreed that there is need for functional recreational centres in Ikorodu.
– There is need for the councils in Ikorodu to support school sports, IDFA etc.
– Local government councils must also endeavour to work closely with the representative of the Ikorodu division on the Sports Commission.
– It was also agreed that sports also aids economic and social developments.
