Akeredolu vows to build wealth through sports

Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo state and Chairman, Western Nigeria Governors Forum on Sunday urged the Nigerian American Football Association (NAFA) and Lagos Marine American Football Club to explore youthful talents that are in abundance.

He said he is prepared to partner the organisations to use sports to grow wealth and promote peace in Nigeria.

The governor, amidst applause, also declared that his administration will soon build a world class football academy to train, grow and expose youths in Ondo to the international clubs, describing sport as a goldmine.

Speaking at the maiden edition of American Flagship Football exhibition game held at National Stadium, Surelere, Lagos, Akeredolu vowed to use his connections across Nigeria to revolutionise the growth of American Flagship Football Game in the country.

Represented by Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, commissioner for sports and youth development, Akeredolu said: “The National Sports Festival which is our home-grown Olympics tagged EDO 2020. It is therefore probable to conclude that if one of the objectives of the exhibition game is to feature many of the players who would form the bulk of the team to represent Nigeria in international football games, we have to applaud your organizations for thus significant contributions to sports development in this country.

“Sporting competition provides good answers for our youths to engage in healthy and lasting relationships, with sound minds in healthy bodies. Athletes are trained to be disciplined to be honest and inculcate cooperative attitude towards others. Therefore, i urge all the youths participating in this exhibition to openly leverage on this opportunity to engage themselves and improve their skills in order to add value to themselves and thereby take Nigeria to an enviable height among the comity of football nations.”

On the important of sports to national unity and economic advancement, Akeredolu said: “Sports in general seems to be the only issue that can draw out patriotism from average Nigerians because sports still appear to be the only soothing balm that brings them happiness in the face of apathy and prevailing general gloom arising from the economic realities of these times.

“It is equally noteworthy that your organizations do not only set out to unite all American Football Houses in Nigeria but to create opportunities for the youth in this country. These opportunities will no doubt propel these youth to actualize their potentials to be financially independent, to be able to explore the world, to win laurels for their country, and thereby in most cases enable them to give back to the community and their country when wealth attends their exploration in sports.

“Let say very expressly that the game of football has developed beyond the stage of amateurism that is a state where football was seen not to be played for pecuniary consideration. Today, the game of football had transformed into a big time business to all stakeholders. It is also a means of youth development and financial empowerment. It is against this backdrop that i will enjoin NAFA and Lagos Marines American Football Club to use your to use your international connections and network tonopen a bigger space of more opportunities to the Nigerian Youth through a replication of this programme beyond Lagos.

“Please, Ondo State here beckons and we hopefully look forward to your collaboration with us in the development of sports in the sunshine state. The introduction of American Football will be novel and i urge you to come invest in my state. I can assure you on behalf of the young people of Ondo State that we will key into this.”