Kunle Adelabu
The Board Member, Lagos State Sports Commission representing the Ikorodu Division, Prince Hakeem Olukunga, has charged the elites in the division on the need to establish contact with Gov Babajide Sanwo – Olu on the proposed stadium for the division.
Prince Olukunga made this statement while speaking with THE IMPACT while he was on tour of sporting facilities in Ikorodu last week.
The administration of former Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode had pledged to construct a standard stadium that would be located at the Itamaga axis of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu main campus.
Also in his statement, Prince Olukunga commended Hon. Babajimi Benson, the federal lawmaker representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives who facilitated the sporting facilities, for the laudable gesture, during the tour of the ongoing upgrading of the Ita – Elewa Youth Centre into a mini – stadium and the Igbogbo township stadium which the former Governor also pledged to upgrade.
“I have been telling some people that we have just been sitting down and not pursuing what we have in mind.
“The former Governor promised us that a stadium will be built at LASPOTECH where a land has been acquired for the purpose, but the issue is that we have not met the governor on the issue, especially our elites. We should be able to have an audience with the governor to tell him what we have been promised by the state, so that he can do it for us”, Prince Olukunga said.
“It will take four years to put a stadium in place if they start building one today, which means that we have to get the Governor to start doing it now. The issue is when are we starting? Our elites should come together and find a means of meeting with the Governor to represent the proposal again”, he added.
“It is a welcome development and we have to thank Hon. Babajimi Benson for taking it upon himself to get this place rehabilitated and put into proper use”, he commended.
“The three sports that will be provided there (football, basketball and volleyball) will be a plus for Ikorodu, even though Ikorodu has long deserved to have an international stadium.
He said that the three sports that facilities are being provided for would engage youths that are involved in them.
“At least, those athletes that will be using the mini – stadium after completion will be taken off the streets and be engaged.
“Anyone playing basketball or any other games that would be provided for at the sporting centre, will exhaust his energy during the day and such will be unable to engage in any other untoward actions.
“That is a plus for Ikorodu and Hon. Benson. We really appreciate him.
Prince Olukunga also revealed that the state sports festival is scheduled to hold in February or March and also stated how the ravaging COVID-19 has impacted on sporting activities.
“COVID-19 has affected sports on and off the field. For instance, after we went through the first phase of the pandemic, we re-opened about 11 sports while players were told to adhere to the COVID – 19 protocols.
“The issue now is the sports festival that will be coming up either in February or March. If we don’t have competition at hand, the training might not be effective”, he said.
“The pandemic has taken its toll on sports in the past seven or eight months. We have been in and out of sporting activities.
“Fortunately, the para – military games that was held in Abuja last weekend were successful with COVID-19 protocols observed.
“In the next one or two months, we should be out of it and be able to host our festivals with strict observance of the COVID – 19 protocols.
“February has been earmarked for it and the worst is to shift it a little to probably March, all things being equal”, he said.
Meanwhile, the project engineer handling the Ita – Elewa mini – stadium has reconfirmed that the project will be delivered in March as promised.
