Ondo State is stepping up its sports infrastructure game as Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa formally inaugurated five newly built sports courts at the state Sports Complex in Akure, a development. The newly unveiled facilities encompass courts for beach volleyball, Abula, handball, basketball, and volleyball, marking a significant push toward youth engagement and talent cultivation across the state.
Speaking on behalf of the governor at the inauguration ceremony, his Special Adviser on Union Matters, Mr Bola Taiwo, explained that the initiative is designed to eventually spread across various sporting zones in the region. Although the project faced initial setbacks and delays before the current administration took charge, momentum picked up remarkably following the appointment of Oladimeji Abimbola as the Chairman of the Ondo State Sports Council. Taiwo praised Abimbola for swiftly recalling contractors to the site and turning things around in record time, while also hinting that the government is actively reviewing plans to regularize and employ athletes who currently serve without full staff status.
Legislative backing for the project remains strong, with key lawmakers applauding the executive’s vision. Mr Jide Oguntodu, who has chaired the Ondo State House of Assembly Committee on Sports for over three years, expressed profound delight over the infrastructural upgrade. Reflecting on his own childhood growing up locally and participating in sporting activities on the same grounds during his secondary school days, Oguntodu commended the governor’s unwavering dedication to youth welfare, assuring stakeholders that more improvements are on the way to help the state compete favorably nationwide.
On his part, Sports Council Chairman Oladimeji Abimbola brings a deep-rooted understanding of the complex’s historical challenges, having spent sixteen years building his coaching career within those very grounds. Emphasizing his readiness to rectify past lapses and foster a thriving environment, Abimbola noted that athlete motivation and welfare form the core of his agenda. According to him, when competitors are adequately motivated, better results naturally follow, signaling that local athletes are poised to experience a much more rewarding era under the current administration.
