National Youth Games: Ekiti government celebrates impressive outing

Ekiti Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has announced cash gifts for the state’s athletes who participated in the just concluded National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta.

Oyebanji made the announcement during a reception ceremony for the athletes at the Governor’s Office in Ado-Ekiti.

At the reception, he disclosed  government’s plan to upgrade training facilities and that government is already investigating the circumstances that led to the poor kitting of the state contingent at opening ceremony of the games, promising to ensure that erring officials do not go unpunished.

Oyebanji  lauded the young athletes for their “impressive performances.”

The governor said the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado Ekiti as well as other stadia in Ikere, Ijero and Ikole would soon be given facelift.

“Let me start on the note of apology to you for the indiscretion and the inappropriate behavior of the officials of the sports council, as a government, we tried our best to provide for you, but the officials for reasons best known to them decided to act inappropriately.

“As a government, I accept responsibility for this not because I support those that decided to act in a way and manners that has brought embarrassment to you and to all Ekiti indigenes all over the world but as the Governor of Ekiti state.

“I apologise to all Ekiti indigenes  for the embarrassment caused by sports council officials to all of us and I hope you accept my apology but I can assure you that justice will be served.

“My take away from what happened is that it has strengthened our resolve to pay more attention to sports development, you will realise that in one of our campaign promises, I said we will take sports away from the ministry, we did that because we realised that people are pushing sports development to the background.

“So, we took sports management away from the ministry, we have sent the bill to the House of Assembly  to put in place the Ekiti State Sports Commission, the House has passed the bill and within the next two weeks we are going to sign the bill into law,” the governor added.

The elated young athletes responded intermittently to the governor with loud applauses and songs.

Speaking on behalf of the team, Aisha Ololade, said they are happy at the governor’s prompt intervention during the games as well as hosting them upon their return to the state.

She said they were all fully motivated to do more for the state in future tournaments.