The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, has sought the collaboration of Ogun State House Assembly in the implementation of the Sports Commission Act which was passed by the Assembly in 2019 for the overall development sports in the state.
The State House of Assembly, had in December, passed the State Sports Commission bill, 2019 and State Sports Trust Fund Bill, as part of moves to further boost sporting activities and youth development in the State.
SWAN Chairman, Comrade Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji made the call when he led other members of the executive on a courtesy call to the Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, at the Assembly complex, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.
Comrade Ogunsiji who noted that the implementation of the bill was needed to promote sports at the grassroots level, commended the Speaker for his efforts in the development of sports in the grassroot, stating that SWAN was committed to partnering the Assembly in replicating the same at the State level.
Responding, the Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide described sports as a major instrument for creating job opportunities and engaging the youth in an efforts to reduce restiveness in the society.
Hon. Elemide who acknowledged the enormous contributions of Sports to the socio economic development of any society if properly harnessed, appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun to take action on the implementation of the Sports Commission bill.
The Speaker explained that State Government had initiated an executive bill for the creation of the Sports Commission and that of the Sports Development Trust Funds.
“The bill was an executive bill. I was part of it. I was part of the passage. And we did our own beat. We have passed it. So we only implore our governor to speed up action on it. There must be a reason why the implementation has not started”.
He assured SWAN of government’s commitment to sports development, saying that the Prince Dapo Abiodun led administration would not relent in giving the best to the teeming youths in the State.
