Ogun to revive state sports festival after decade hiatus

The Ogun state government has said it would revive the state sports festival which serves as a prelude to the National Sports Festival.

The Sports Commissioner, Wasiu Isiaka disclosed this on Tuesday at the 2nd biennial inter-house sports competition of Vivanis Group of Schools held at the Navy Secondary School, Abeokuta.

Isiaka said the state sports festival which was last held during the Otunba Gbenga Daniel administration would avail the state government the opportunity to discover talent and nurture them to stardom.

He explained that this would bring competitiveness among the state athletes that will represent the state at the National Sports Festival.

He said arrangement is in top gear with the state Ministry of Education and State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to organize competitions among primary and secondary school pupils in the state to improve sports at the grassroots level.

“The government is ready to do everything possible to engage them. Sports has a unique way of bringing people together. We are planning a lot of things because we have the ability to train these talents. We are trying to make sure there is synergy between the private schools and the state government.

“The government has concluded plans to bring back the State sports festival, we are going to return it and the plan is on the way.”

Isiaka, however, said the sports ministry would begin open trials for athletes that will represent the state at the National Sports Festival.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ogun state chapter, Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji, charged the state government to begin early preparation for the forthcoming National Sports Festival.

Ogunsiji maintained that early camping of the athletes would ensure the success of the state at the biennial sporting event.