Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, has said that his administration has resolved to improve economy in the state through sports development, just as he donated N50million to MFM FC following their exploits at the just-ended Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) 2016/17 season.
He made the submission during the week when he hosted the Lagos-based side alongside top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and ex-internationals, at the Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja.
The Olukoya Boys it will be recalled, finished second in the Nigerian top-flight to grab the CAF Champions League ticket alongside the leaguewinners, Plateau United of Jos.
Ambode, while addressing officials and players of the Lagos-based side also noted that discipline remains a keyword for any success to be achieved.
“We need to use sports as an instrument to build the economy of Lagos State and also direct the energy of our younger ones to things that are very positive as exemplified by what is happening today.
“Beyond football, they continue to use it for their own mental ability to be able to be proud future leaders in the country and that is what we are trying to say.
“It is a way of propagating new leaders and people who are properly disciplined, because you need a lot of discipline to play football.
“There are things that are not thought in schools that you actually find in sports and that is the direction we are trying to go with youth development in this State. I will like to commend the team and the officials,” Ambode said.
Ambode lauded MFM FC for returning CAF Champions League actions to the state 16 years after, as he pledged his administration’s support to ensure successful campaign of the team on the continent.
He donated N25 milion to the players and officials of the team for qualifying for the CAF Champions League and another N25 million to boost their continental campaign.
“We have directed the Lagos State Sports Commission to make sure that everything needed to ensure that Agege Stadium is certified fit by CAF for the CAF Champions League is done,” Ambode said.
He noted that the success of MFM FC conformed to the vision of the government to use sports to engage youths in the state.
Earlier in his remarks, the Director of Sports, MFM Worldwide, Mr Godwin Enakhena, who represented the MFM General Overseer, Pastor Daniel Olukoya, commended the Ambode administration for the support for the team adding that the government released Agege Stadium to MFM FC free.
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