Makinde Lauds West Midland Communications For Commitment To Youth Development, Sporting Activities
***As Liberty Academy wins 4x100m 5th Lagelu FM Secondary School Relay Race
By Kazeem Awojoodu, Ibadan
Governor Makinde has lauded West Midland Communications Boss for his commitment toward youths development.
Naijanewshub.com.ng reports that Oyo state Governor, Seyi Makinde has applauded the continuous effort of West Midland communications owner of the SplashFm and LageluFM in promoting sporting activities, commitment to youths development in the state through its annual LageluFm inter secondary schools relay competition.
The Governor stated this at the grand finale of the 5th edition of the relay competition held at the Lekan Salami sport complex, Adamasingba.
Makinde who was represented at the event by the commissioner for youths and sport, Hon. Seun Fakorede stressed that LageluFm and its partners have demonstrated significant interest as well as commitment to youths development in the state with the annual Relay Competition.
Hon. Fakorede who was represented at the event by Sports Director Administration of the Youths and Sports Ministry, Mrs. Olubisi Adegoke, commended the organiser of the event for providing an enabling environment for the participants.
She said, “I give kudos to the organisers for the enabling environment they have given to these children. So many we wouldn’t have known that they have these talents if this competition wasn’t put up.
“Kudos to Gov. Seyi Makinde for putting up this edifice in this his tenure, we’ve never had it this so beautiful in Oyo state. We are very glad to have such facility here in our state.
“We thank them for putting this together in this time even with all challenges. Oyo state has always been a major sponsor of this competition and this won’t be the last,” she said.
She, however, encouraged the students not to relent on their oars has they have been discovered today but continue in their training and be committed so that they can become someone great in life.
Also in his contributions the state commissioner for education Barrister Rahmon Abdulraheem who was represented by the permanent secretary and Inspector General of education, Elder Delani Binuyo, equally affirmed that the activity would help in discovering new talents across the nation.
He also noted that the initiative would not only impact Oyo state but would be value addition to the nation’s sport sector while encouraging others to emulate LageluFm.
In their separate remarks, the chief operating officer, Mrs Atinuke Adetunji and the general manager, Operations, Mr Tunde Olawuwo unanimously noted the yearly improvement of the competition and assured that a hall of fame would be established to create a platform for proper nurturing of discovered talents even as they pursue their educational ambition.
Tunde Olawuwo, the General Manager Operations Splash and Lagelu FM said that their expectations prior to the competition is to get the best of our young stars who are secondary students U-14 years in both public and private schools.
Olawuwo said that they are set out to find potentials in them most especially those good in sprints. He added that through collaborate efforts of our partners to find a platform for them to soar higher and achieve their dreams while not ignoring their education which is very important.
“The interest level this year is higher, we had 1309 participants and we’ve never had such figure in the previous editions and we are quite happy about this,” Olawuwo said.
He, however, charged many other brands should into areas that they can intervene because we can’t all leave it to the government and say it’s their job.
The competition which began in 2017 had help in discovering different talents with great potentials, beginning with over sixty schools as participants in the first edition, this 5th edition had the highest participants with over 1300 athletes on the tracks to show their talents.
In the 4 × 100m mixed relay Bodija International College came first while Liberty Academy came second and Providence High School emerged third.
In the 4× 200m girls Liberty Academy clinched first while Christ High School came second and Lords Secondary School came third.
In the same vein in 4 × 200m Providence High School came first while Liberty Academy came second and Ibadan Grammar School came third.
Other categories were 4 × 200m boys and girls final, Providence high school, Liberty academy and Ibadan grammar school emerged 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively for boys as Liberty Academy, Christ high school and Lords secondary school emerged 1st 2nd and third respectively for the girls category.
For the 4× 100m mixed race, Bodija International college, Liberty academy and Providence high school emerged 1st, 2nd and third respectively.
The event was attended by several sports stakeholders, government officials and other prominent Nigerians including the founder and chairman, the ekarun Olubadan of Ibadanland, high chief Adebayo Akande.