By Felix Kuyinu
Speaker at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Mudashiru Obasa, has enjoined stakeholders in the state’s sports sector on the need to further ensure that youths are more involved in sporting activities.
Obasa hinted that sports is an area that should not be downplayed as it has the capacity to make the country greater, enrich the youths and improve businesses.
At the opening of the second edition of a sports competition tagged “Obasa Games 2024” held on Friday at Anwar-Islam Secondary School in Agege, Lagos, the legislator noted that emerging developments in sports has prompted the Lagos Assembly to amend the State’s Sports Commission Law to accommodate new areas that are beneficial to the youth.
He noted that one of the initiatives is the sporting event which will run from November 15 through December 14.
“I am passionate about football and I have always been a sportsman myself,” Obasa began.
“I am very happy and highly joyful, and I want to commend the organizers, particularly the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Ganiyu Obasa, for putting this together. It is encouraging and laudable, and it is a mind of passion that I have naturally for sports. It is very encouraging, as it gives the youths hope.
“I love football, and I love bringing in youths together for their future benefits. This is why I am so joyful about this event.
“Sports serves as an advantage to us in this state and the nation and I am reiterating that it is the future of our youth. Go anywhere in the world; sports has become a huge business. It can help combat crimes and increase youth engagement in activities that boost national growth and development.
“I am just allowing them to exhibit their talents,” the Speaker added. ” Not giving them this platform is tantamount to denying them the privilege and opportunity, and we don’t have to wait for the government to organise things like this.
“We have realised that government alone cannot provide employment. We have also realized that because of the peculiarities of our nation as well as our advantage in terms of population, we can generate businesses out of sports to move the youth away from crime.
“This sports competition facilitated will continue to remain sustained and seek towards the welfare of youths in other to further aid their success in their chosen career.
“I urge them to be at their best to make this event memorable”.
The participants which are athletes and teams shortlisted from 10 local governments and 18 LCDA’S within the Lagos West Senatorial District will take part in football, boxing, table tennis, chess, and Scrabble.
At the end of the event, the sum of N3m cash will be given to the winners of the football competition, while second and third-placed teams will pocket N2m and N1m, respectively.
In the boxing and table tennis events, the winners in the male and female categories will take home N500,000 each, while the four first-runners-up will get N300,000 each and the third-place winners get N200,000 each.
A prize gift of N1m will also be presented to both scrabble and chess participants.
