Wale Jagun
The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende has stated that the administration of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu will harness the power of Chess game as a tool for fostering social inclusion and integration on a grander scale among the youths in the State.
He said this today during the courtesy visit of the Founder, Chess In Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya and Vice President of Nigeria Chess Foundation, Mr. Adeyinka Adewole to his office in Alausa.
Ogunlende noted that beyond being just a pastime to while away time, the game of Chess would be explored by the Ministry as a dignified source of employment and income for youths.
He added that it was towards ensuring that youths are well-engaged that the State Government established Youth Centres in all three Senatorial Districts where they are offered opportunities not only to enjoy sporting activities but also to acquire a skill.
In his words: “Youth engagement is one of the developmental pillars of the THEMES Plus Agenda which our Ministry is statutorily saddled with the responsibility”.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Pharm (Mrs.) Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu disclosed that the Ministry would utilise Chess to engage most of the youths who have the propensity of going into drug abuse due to idleness.
She said: “As a Ministry, we are going to engage the youths in the State through the game of Chess. This is a profitable activity that can help keep the idle ones among them from indulging in drug abuse. You know an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. So we are going to take full advantage of Chess to curb the menace of drug abuse in our society”, she said.
On their part, Messrs Tunde Onakoya and Adeyinka Adewale stated that they decided to leverage the game of Chess to help the youths in the State, particularly those living in slums.
