The Ogun State Government on Tuesday announced a 16-man local organizing committee to work out modalities for a successful hosting of the 2024 National Sports Festival (NSF) scheduled to hold next year in the state, in fulfilment of an earlier promise made by the Governor Dapo Abiodun.
Penpushing reports that, Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, unveiled identities of the members as include former Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Bukola Olapade as the chairman and Tilewa Adebayo as co-chairman.
The statement added that another notable member is Chief (Mrs.) Falilat Ogunkoya-Omotayo (MON) who is regarded as the Queen of tracks is a 1998 World Cup of Athletics Champion, 400 metres grand prix champion, 200 metres world champion, two-time Olympic medalist and the first female Nigerian to win an individual Olympic medal and hold the African record in 400 metres till date.
Penpushing further reports that the list include Secretary-General of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the National Sports Festival (NSF) Edo 2020, Dr Emmanuel Igbinosa, one of Nigeria’s notable sports administrators, ex-chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC); working committee of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) and Chairman of the Youth Committee of African Table Tennis Federation, Dr Kweku Tandoh.
The statement added that the renowned sports psychologist and head of the Department of Sports and Exercise Medical Sciences at University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana, Professor Oluwaseun Olanrewaju Omotayo is a member.
Penpushing also reports that others the Vice Chairman of Ijebu Ode Local Government, Hon Dare Alebiosu; Mr. Kunle Solaja, Olusegun Oyende, Mr Olatunji Onatolu, Mrs. Modele Sharafa- Yussuf, Demola Are, Abiodun Jubril Elegbede, Ola Opedimeji Adisa, the former Commissioner for Youth and Sports and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The statement said that the Local Organising Committee(LOC) has been mandated to set up sub-committees, made up of various stakeholders to ensure a hitch-free exercise as well as deliver a sports festival that is second to none in the country.
Penpushing reports that it is recalled that the Ogun State Government, earlier in May, had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development.
The Governor during that occasion had told the Federal Government delegation led by the then Minister of Sports, Mr Sunday Dare, that Ogun State, being a state noted for recording many firsts in all spheres of human endeavour, was ready to host a world-class festival in 2024, asserting that the state had capable hands and sponsors ready to support the bid.
Penpushing further reports that, to that end, the former minister, while expressing the Federal Government acceptance of the proposal noted that the choice of Ogun State as the next host of the National Sports Festival(NSF) was due to its culture of sports development, availability of sporting infrastructure and potential to host a befitting festival that would linger for a long time.
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