The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr David Lawal has reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to advance, uplift and promote grass-roots sports development in the country.
He gave the commitment at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, on Wednesday, on the occasion of the zonal launch and presentation of sports equipment to 38 public primary schools in Oyo State by National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF).
Lawal, represented by Dr Amina Shamaki, said the intervention is to promote grass-roots sports development in the country with the specific objectives of enhancing the capacity of the nation to grow and expand her talent base by securing the interest and involvement of the children of primary schools in sporting activities.
According to him, the Federal Government, through the NLTF, is determined to see to the successful implementation of the intervention programme through a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system,
He said the programme is expected to improve the nation’s future performance in sports at all levels by harnessing the potential of young talents and nurture their transition to world class athletes, sports men and women.
The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, NLTF, Mr Habu Gumel, charged lottery operators, licences and all business promoters that engage in any form of promotional lottery in the country to keep to their obligations of remitting 20 per cent lottery proceeds to the agency, warning that government will no longer tolerate sharp practices that undermine the growth and development of lottery good causes in the country.
He said the initiative which is part of the efforts of the agency to contribute to the development of grass-roots sports in the country is in continuation of the grand plan to equip 2000 targeted schools across the country, with modern sport facilities to promote sports development, especially among the average children.
The areas of sports that the equipment cover include athletics, volleyball, basketball, football, handball, badminton, table tennis, judo and taekwando.
Gumel while noting that the act establishing the agency empowers it to utilise proceeds generated from all national lottery operations for execution of good cause projects across the county for the benefit and well being of the Nigerian people, expressed confidence that the intervention programme will lead to the discovery of new talents in sports that abound in the community.
The event was attended by officials of the South West NLTF, State Universal Basic Education Board, members of the State Executive Council, royal fathers, teachers and students alike
He said, “I call upon our lottery operators and licensees and indeed business promoters that engage in any form of promotional lottery to keep to their obligations of remitting 20 per cent lottery proceeds to the Trust Fund.
As government will no longer tolerate sharp practices that undermines the growth and development of lottery good causes in the country.
“You would recall section 40(a) of the National lottery Act 2005, the law establishing the agency, empowers it to utilise proceeds generated from all national lottery operations for execution of good cause projects across the country for the benefit and wellbeing of the Nigerian people.
“The fact that this event is taking place here in this historic city of Ibadan is enough testament to our resolve to ensure that these sports equipment reach all the benefitting primary schools in the country in accordance with federal government directives. We are poised to ensure that the specific objectives of this surrent intervention, which is to primarily enhance the nation’s capacity to grow and expand its talent-base by securing the interest and involvement of our children of primary school age in sporting activities is realised”.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State who expressed appreciation of the state government to the donor agency, said the effort will go a long way in helping government concentrate its little resources on other meaningful aspect of development in the state
Represented by the Commissioner of Youths and Sports development, Mr. Abayomi Oke, he said the intervention is timely and coming at a time the state government just appointed coaches for public schools across all the 33 local governments of the state
He assured that the facilities will be well monitored and put to best use in the interest of the children and society at large.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, who were represented by Oba Adebisi Layede and Chief Sharafadeen Abiodun Ali, respectively, lauded the agency for the donations while calling on the benefitting schools to make the best use of the facilities.
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