Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has splashed cash gifts of N66 million on the state’s medalists and coaches that represented the state at the just concluded National Sports Festival (Edo 2020) held in Edo State.
The governor, while announcing the cash gift, pledged that his administration will continue to provide the atmosphere for sports to progress in the state to ensure a target of 100 Gold in the next year National Sports Festival slated for Delta State in 2022 could be achieved.
Governor Makinde made the pledge while hosting the state-contingent of the just concluded NSF Edo 2020 at the Executive Chamber of Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan.
He assured that all allowances pledged will be cleared in two weeks’ time.
He maintained that the focus of his administration is to encourage sports from the grassroots, hence, the need to upgrading sports edifies and facilities in all the geopolitical zones in the state.
Announcing the cash gifts, Governor Makinde showered each Gold medalist a sum of N500,000 naira, Silver medalist, N350,000, and a Bronze medalist with a sum of N250,000 each respectively.
The Governor also gifted a sum of N500,000 to each of the 55 coaches and an extra one million nairas to Clifford Owusa and Yakubu Adesokan, who were the Gold medalists in Discus and Para Power Lifting to encourage others living with disability to key into sports in the state.
Earlier in his address, the state’s Commissioner for Youth and Sport, Mr. Seun Fakorede, expressed happiness that the state’s contingents distinguished themselves by coming 6th overall in 22 events with an impressive haul of 103 medals from 31 Gold Medals, 30 Silver, and 42 Bronze to the state’s name.
“I am also pleased to place on record that this feat is unprecedented as Oyo State went to the festival with one of the least contingents as against the 800 contingents presented by Lagos State who came fifth at the festival.”
“It is also germane to state that this inspiring and superlative performance put up by Oyo State Contingents at the time of this administration is unrivaled in the history of Oyo State’s attendance at the festival with the following past results to validate this assertion.”
“This huge success however was essentially driven by the patriotism and magnanimity spirit of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Governor Oluwaseyi Makinde (FNSE), which he displayed first in 2020 when he took upon himself to pay the cash reward to the 2018 National Sports Festival Medalists which was promised by the last administration and was not fulfilled. This however set the tune for this year’s 2020 beautiful performance that we are here to celebrate today,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of other medalists, Babalola Mumini, appealed to the state government to create employment opportunities for the athletes and officials, while he also urged the government for timely approval and prompt release of funds to facilitate effective preparation for festivals and any other championship.
“On behalf of Oyo State athletes, I will like to say thank you for your support. We also want you to know that we went there to give all our best. This year’s edition was a great performance for Oyo State athletes and I say kudos to all the athletes.”
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