Towards ensuring the growth and development of budding talents in their formative years, Ogun State government has reiterated its commitment to sports development, especially for the youth, thereby new talents in various sports could be nurtured for global stardom.
Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, who made this known at the 2nd Edition of the Prince Dapo Abiodun Closed Table Tennis Championship for Secondary Schools in Ogun State, at Ijeja Stadium, Abeokuta, noted that the competition was an avenue to deploy the energy of the children to profitable ventures.
Mr. Talabi said Table Tennis as a sport was beneficial to the players, in terms of mental alertness, smartness and improving reflexes, charging parents of talented children in secondary schools to nurture and support their wards with the right incentives, in order to help them to stardom, urging them to release them to seasoned coaches, who could help them harness their God-given talents effectively and profitably.
“This competition is another way to bring the energy of the children to productive use. I implore parents of these talented secondary school children not to bury the talents of their wards because competitions like this is a preparatory exercise to the National Sports Festival. If you do a lot of sports like this, you will become smarter, blood will flow through you; you will be more agile and healthier”, he said.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Wasiu Isiaka, appreciated Governor Dapo Abiodun for the various initiatives in the sector which would ultimately reposition sports and sporting activities in the State.
He stated that school sports would continue to play a pivotal role in the nurturing of genuine budding talents, thereby curbing social vices in secondary schools, advising participants not to relent, but strive harder on their way to the global stage.
While charging the students to continue to uphold the values of sportsmanship, fair play and excellence, Hon. Isiaka submitted that their commitment and relentless pursuit for victory had been truly inspiring to watch, imploring them to keep the pace.
