Oyo state governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, on Friday, declared that the state will key into the FIFA Connect Programme in order to discover upcoming football talents in the state, adding that his administration is ready to work with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to develop the sport in the state.

Makinde stated this, while hosting the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, Football Association chairmen from some neighbouring South-West states, ex-3SC and Super Eagles player, Mutiu Adepoju.

Governor Makinde maintained that his  administration’s determination to ensure that the state gets a share of the $600 billion worth sport sector led to the massive investments on sports development.

” I welcome you back home (to Ibadan) and it is indeed a plus for us, because since you have that affinity to Oyo State, I know if there is anything passing through your table which will benefit us, you will consider it done.

“I am glad that you like what you saw out there at the Lekan Salami Stadium. Actually, we have been thinking about how to engage the majority of our youths and the talents we have in the state and take them off the street. The sports industry is huge worldwide.

“So, we think we deserve a slice of the $600bn sport  industry and we know we do have talents all over the place but there is nothing to connect them.

“When we came in, we did not meet any real programme in place to seek for these talents and harness them. When I went to Edo State, I was taken around the stadium and I immediately asked who did it for them.

“Also, we look forward to our Shootings Stars Sports Club getting back into the professional premier league in Nigeria, so that every weekend, we will all look forward to their evening matches. We are on that trajectory and we are happy to work with NFF for value addition”, he said.

Makinde informed that his government would like to explore the opportunities available in the FIFA Connect Programme to discover talents in the state, saying: “In terms of the FIFA Connect programme you mentioned, I am hearing it for the first time but what you mentioned, we will take it on board and definitely get Oyo State connected into the programme.

“We know talents like Mutiu Adepoju still exist in Oyo State. We are not only remodeling Lekan Salami Stadium, but we are remodeling mini-stadia all over the geopolitical zones of the state and we want to develop sports in those areas.

“So, I am happy that we are working together and this is not being politicised. You can count on us that we will work together to develop sports in general in Oyo State.”

Remarking, the NFF president, Pinnick, said that the remodeled Lekan Salami Stadium will be a destination for many football activities, assuring Governor Makinde that with the facilities the NFF team saw at stadium, it will get all the necessary accreditations.

He said: “One of the biggest and most traditional football clubs we have in Nigeria is Up Shooting(3SC). So, I must say I am very proud of you, Your Excellency.

“I want to also thank you for what we have seen. We will come back again and I want to assure you that you will get all the necessary accreditation for the Lekan Salami Stadium and it is indeed automatic because when I went to the stadium, what I saw, I am still yet to recover from it. It is a very positive one. It is huge and will be a destination for a lot of football activities for both local and international.

“I want Oyo State to be part of the FIFA Connect Programme but what they need is a proper office and IT systems. It is very important and I want it to be in your time. With the stadium you have now, I don’t think you should wait for anything.

“We need to start the programme here because you have four training pitches, which means the kids will have to be playing in there from now on. This is because growing up in this town, I know there are a lot of talents here. And I know that is one of your cardinal points; youth development and human capital development.”

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The Commissioner also added that he was sure that the clubs will perform excellently well and secure promotion back to the elite stage in the Nigerian football league.

Fakorede who gave the assurance in Ibadan, the state capital while featuring on Parrot Xtra Hour on Radio also  informed that Governor Seyi Makinde   has allocated a total sum of about five and a half billion naira which he regarded as a modest cost for the remodeling of the popular Lekan Salami Stadium Adamasingba, Ibadan, to meet international standards while promising to give facelifts to all other sections in the stadium.

He maintained that the present administration is committed to improving the economic infrastructure of the state and eradicate unemployment among youths in the State.

According to him, the governor  is working tirelessly to revamp all the sectors of the state as he  has given the approval of 500 million naira as a starter fund for youths’ empowerment in the state while engaging about 5000 youths to be employed by the state’s teaching service commission.

He also appealed for patience from Oyo youths on the issue of the dilapidated structures at the Ososami youth center.

“We are actually rehabilitating; we can’t possibly do everything at once. We have decided to put them in phases and fortunately, Ososami youth center is part of the project to enjoy the first phase of renovation”, he said.

Fakorede further assured that concerted efforts are being put in place by the various concerned ministries to see that youths and children roaming the street are catered for, while emphasizing that a lot of work still should be done to arrest the ugly situation of children roaming the streets.

The Commissioner, however charged Oyo youths not to be intimidated by any obstacle that might confront them as it is a “stepping stone to greatness”.

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