By Stephen Oladele
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun Federal Constituency in Kwara State, Dr Rafiu Ajakaye, has promised a concentrated investment on grassroots sports development in the constituency if elected to the House of Assembly
He said he would be doing this in order to ensure that young talents are discovered and nurtured for maximum development of their potential
Ajakaye made the promise while featuring on Kwara SWAN Sports Hard Talk on Monday at the Taiwo Awoniyi Sports Media Centre, George Innih Stadium Complex, Ilorin.
He said the constituency was blessed with talented young people who could excel in various sporting disciplines if provided with adequate facilities, an enabling environment and the necessary support.
The APC candidate explained that his proposed sports development agenda would, aside football, also cover table tennis, swimming, athletics and other sporting disciplines, and not be limited to football alone.
He said that grassroots investment was essential in building a sustainable sports development system as he noted that many gifted athletes remain undiscovered due to inadequate opportunities and support.
The politician promised to work with the state Sports Commission to organise talent-hunting programmes across the constituency, providing opportunities for young athletes in football, table tennis, swimming and other sporting disciplines.
He said grassroots sports organisers would play a crucial role in the initiative because of their understanding of local talents, existing challenges and the support required to nurture promising athletes.
“These are guys who are basically the grassroots. They know where the challenges are,” he said, pledging to engage them in developing practical solutions to improve sports participation and athlete development.
He added that a well-structured grassroots sports programme could create opportunities for economic empowerment, community development and the emergence of future sporting stars from the constituency.
Ajakaye, the immediate past Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, maintained that investing in young athletes and providing access to sporting facilities would help establish a stronger foundation for sports development across Ifelodun, Offa and Oyun.
He commended the state government for renovating the Offa Stadium, describing the facility as a valuable asset that should be fully utilised to promote sports and discover emerging talents.
“I am proud that His Excellency is doing fantastically in my own constituency, and that is the renovation of the Offa Stadium for the first time in many years. I am seeing that as an asset already,” he said.
The former governor’s media aide pledged to collaborate with the state government to explore opportunities to expand and maximise the use of sporting facilities in Offa and other parts of the constituency.
He also promised to support local governments in participating effectively in state sporting festivals, noting that inadequate funding sometimes prevents some councils from competing optimally.
He said his intervention, if elected, would provide young athletes with better opportunities to represent their communities and showcase their abilities at sporting competitions.
The politician emphasised that his proposed sports programme would focus on discovering and developing talents at the grassroots rather than concentrating solely on established professional teams.
He commended the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) for its contribution to development of sports in the country as he identified the association as a key stakeholder in achieving his objectives.
