Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Thursday pledged the support of the state to ensuring that Nigeria got the hosting right for the World Para Powerlifting Championships.
Ambode, who made the pledge while hosting the Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung also pledged to invest more in sports.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the minister led a delegation of members of the International Paralympics Committee and the Nigeria Federation of Para Powerlifting to the Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja.
Ambode, who said their visit was timely, commended members of the committee and assured them that the championships would be used to reflect on the overall vision of youth development.
He said: “Lagos State is ready and committed to host the championships. We have done so much in the area of sports and also sports for people with disabilities, this is part of our overall vision to use sports to develop the city itself.’’
He described sports as the engine room for development, saying that he was more than ever committed to continue to support its development and create the enabling environment for it to thrive.
He noted that his administration remained committed to providing sport facilities in all neighbourhoods of the state to ensure that youths were properly engaged.
Ambode said: “Two third of the state’s population is under the age of 35 and it is in our best interest to create the enabling environment for the youths to develop their talents, especially in sports and arts.
“We need to develop them mentally; it is not all about going to school. By creating recreational facilities, you are developing the whole mental framework of the youth.”
The governor said the reconstruction of the Onikan Stadium was ongoing and will be ready in January 2019, while in another few weeks, the ground breaking for the Maracana Stadium in Ajegunle area of the state would be done.
According to him, all this, is geared toward youth development.
Dalung said the international delegation was sent to Nigeria to conduct training for the leadership of the Nigerian Para Powerlifting Federation and stakeholders on the responsibilities of the hosting rights for the 2019 World Power Paralympics Championship.
He said that they had also inspected facilities to be used when Nigeria is finally given the bid to host the championships.
He said: “Nigeria as a country is in the bid to host an international Paralympic Championships in Lagos, come 2019, and as part of the requirements for qualification.
“The international delegation is in Nigeria to also conduct training and inspect facilities.’’
Trending
- Why Force Headquarters ordered detention of ex-Governor Yahaya Bello’s ADC
- Lagos seals church complex for environmental pollution
- Minister hails Nigerian delegates to global robotics meet
- Turning a blind eye to recent positive signals in Nigeria’s economy, by Hafiz Bakare
- Lagos clamps down on illegal estates in Epe axis
- Gov. Otu doubles subvention for Rovers Football Club
- Obaship tussle: Hoodlums kill security operative, shoot traditional chiefs + Photos
- Simi to feature on Glo sponsored African Voices