Governor AbdulRazaq Declares 8th Kwara State Sports Festival Open, Stakeholders Applaud Sports Development
The Excutive Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has officially declared open the 8th Kwara State Sports Festival, calling on young athletes to embrace unity, sportsmanship, discipline and personal development throughout the multi-sport event.
The festival, which features athletes from all 16 local government areas of the state competing across 28 sporting events, is being held at the George Agbazika Innih Stadium Complex, Ilorin, and will run through August 29.
Representing the Governor at the opening ceremony, the Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Coach Bola Magaji, expressed appreciation to the chairmen of the 16 local government areas for mobilising their contingents to participate in the festival.
Magaji said the primary objectives of the festival were to foster peaceful coexistence, build friendships among young people, promote sportsmanship and discover grassroots talents across the state.
“We are here to compete, we are here to make friends, and we are here to showcase sports. Unity remains our best option,” he said.
He highlighted Governor AbdulRazaq’s commitment to sports development, noting that the administration had revived the biennial state sports festival after a long hiatus.
According to him, the revival of the competition represents another significant milestone in youth engagement, grassroots talent discovery and the utilisation of sports facilities across the state.
Magaji urged the athletes to give their best in their respective sporting disciplines while reminding them not to neglect their academic pursuits.
He advised the young athletes to strike a balance between sports and education, explaining that while sporting talents and physical agility should be maximised during their youth, education would provide them with a strong foundation for the future.
He subsequently declared the festival open on behalf of Governor AbdulRazaq, amid applause from athletes, coaches, officials and local government representatives.
Stakeholders Commend Sports Investment
Stakeholders at the festival have also commended the Kwara State Government for its renewed commitment to sports development, particularly its investment in sports infrastructure and the provision of an enabling environment for young athletes to discover, develop and showcase their talents.
Former Director of Sports, Mrs. Serah Bola Esan, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Dr. Steve Olarinoye, and other dignitaries expressed goodwill and support for the successful hosting of the festival.
They described the event as an important platform for talent discovery, youth development, unity, friendship and sportsmanship, while urging participating athletes and officials to give their best and uphold the principles of fair play throughout the competition.
Representing the Head of Service, Mrs. Olufunke Mercy Shittu, Malam Haliru Ayatu described the festival as a welcome development and evidence of the state government’s efforts to upscale sports activities in Kwara State.
He said sports development in the state had improved tremendously, while the investment in the renovation and upgrading of the Kwara State Stadium had created a conducive environment for athletes and sports lovers.
Ayatu commended the state government for its investment in sports infrastructure and urged the athletes to maximise the opportunity provided by the festival to acquire experience, develop their talents and build careers.
He noted that sports had gone beyond entertainment, stressing that it had become a viable career and business opportunity through which young people could earn a living.
He congratulated all participants and urged them to approach the competition with discipline and sportsmanship, emphasising that the festival should be seen as a fair competition rather than a fight.
Also speaking, the Executive Chairman of Isin Local Government, Mr. Ezekiel Benjamin, commended Governor AbdulRazaq for transforming the face of the George Agbazika Innih Stadium and upgrading the facility to a standard capable of hosting major sporting activities.
Benjamin said the stadium had historically served as a breeding ground for sporting talents, producing athletes who went on to represent Nigeria at national and international competitions.
He expressed optimism that the ongoing sports festival would provide another platform for discovering new talents who could represent Kwara State and Nigeria on the world stage.
The Isin council chairman also praised the participation of the 16 local governments, describing it as an important development for grassroots sports.
He urged the athletes to remain committed, give their best and continue working hard, assuring them that dedication and perseverance could lead to excellence.
The Executive Chairman of Edu Local Government, Alhaji Muhammad Bello, also applauded the state government for prioritising youth engagement through sports.
Bello said the festival would promote unity among young people from the various local government areas while providing an avenue to identify talents and potentials that could contribute to the development of Kwara State.
He expressed confidence in the preparedness of Edu Local Government’s athletes, declaring that the delegation was determined to emerge as the overall best across the various events.
Aluko Commends Grassroots Talent Development
Meanwhile, former Chairman of Kwara United Football Club and former Board Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Council, Barrister Bamidele Aluko, described himself as one of the happiest persons witnessing the festival.
Aluko, who has served at different levels of sports administration in the state, recalled that he first entered the stadium as a member of the Sports Council before later becoming its chairman and subsequently Chairman of Kwara United Football Club.
He said the transformation he witnessed at the stadium represented a significant departure from what obtained during his time, commending Governor AbdulRazaq for his investment in sports development and infrastructure.
According to him, grassroots sports development should begin from school sports and progress through local government competitions to state-level festivals.
He described the return of the state sports festival as a step in the right direction, noting that bringing athletes from all 16 local government areas together would make it possible to identify talents from the grassroots rather than relying excessively on recruiting established athletes.
Aluko urged local government chairmen to become more proactive in developing sports in their respective areas.
He also commended the leadership of the Kwara State Sports Commission, the Local Organising Committee and the organising team for their efforts towards making the festival a success.
Addressing the athletes, he described the festival as an opportunity to showcase their talents and pursue careers in different sporting disciplines.
He urged them to take the competition seriously, put in their best and remain focused, noting that opportunities existed for talented athletes to compete at various levels nationally and internationally.
Goodwill and Support from Organisers
Former Director of Sports, Mrs. Serah Bola Esan, also joined other stakeholders in expressing goodwill to the organisers and participants of the festival.
Esan commended the state government for its commitment to sports development and for creating an enabling environment where young athletes could demonstrate their abilities and pursue their sporting aspirations.
She described the festival as an important avenue for discovering and nurturing talents capable of representing Kwara State and Nigeria at major competitions.
She also congratulated the organisers and participating local governments, urging athletes and officials to uphold discipline, determination and sportsmanship throughout the festival.
The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Dr. Steve Olarinoye, appreciated the support received from the Kwara State Government, participating local governments, officials, coaches, athletes, volunteers and other stakeholders.
Olarinoye assured participants and stakeholders that the committee would continue to work diligently towards ensuring a successful, well-organised and memorable festival.
He congratulated all participating teams and athletes and wished them the best of luck, urging them to compete with discipline, determination and respect for the rules of the various events.
Unity, Friendship and Education
In his closing remarks, the representative of Governor AbdulRazaq, Mr. Solomon Jaja, thanked athletes from all 16 local government areas for honouring the invitation to participate in the festival.
Jaja also commended the Local Organising Committee Chairman, Dr. Steve Olarinoye, and members of the committee for their commitment and hard work from the inauguration of the organising process to the opening of the festival.
He said the festival was not only about competition but also about promoting unity, friendship, exploration and talent development among young people across Kwara State.
According to him, the state government revived the sports festival a few years ago as part of its commitment to sports development and its passion for the welfare and advancement of athletes.
He urged local government chairmen to continue supporting their athletes and ensuring that young people were given opportunities to develop their talents.
Jaja, however, reminded the athletes that sporting talent should go hand in hand with education, urging them not to abandon their studies while pursuing sporting careers.
He said athletes should make proper use of their talents while they were young and physically agile, while also acquiring education and knowledge that would serve them in later years.
He consequently declared the festival open on behalf of Governor AbdulRazaq, wishing all participants a successful and rewarding competition.
The stakeholders congratulated the organisers and participating local governments for their efforts towards making the 8th Kwara State Sports Festival a success and expressed optimism that the competition would produce athletes capable of representing Kwara State and Nigeria at national and international competitions.
The festival is expected to further strengthen grassroots sports development in Kwara State while promoting unity, peaceful coexistence, youth empowerment, talent discovery and healthy competition among young people from the 16 local government areas.
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