The trio of Somolu All Progressive Congress (APC) stalwarts, Hon. Alabi Kolade David, Hon. Rotimi Olowo and AbdulHamed Salawu ‘Dullar’ have given the organizer of the Orekoya Alliance Tournament a pat on the shoulder for deeming it fit to put such an epoch-making sporting event together to put the youths on the front-burner; hunting for talents that’ll thereafter pave way for socio-economic advancement of Somolu community.
According to the President of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) and the Chairman of all 57 local governments and LCDA’s in Lagos State, Hon. Bar. Alabi Kolade David revealed that psychological infrastructure, talent hunt, Arts and culture are an excellent investment that must not be joked with noting that it was the best way to empower the teeming youth which’ll go a long way in bridging the gap between the youth and leaders in the community.
“To me, the organizer and the initiator of this programme has done so well and need to be encouraged in order to achieve the set goal. You’ll agree with me that all the sporting events particularly football in Nigeria today are nosediving simply because we’ve neglected many of these sporting areas. We’re not encouraging or providing the right atmosphere for all our youth to thrive.”
“Engaging the youth with the right tools is an excellent investment and I want to use this opportunity to call on the elites and the corporate organizations to see this kind of event as the best way to empower the teeming youth”. He averred.
In the same vein, the lawmaker representing Somolu constituency 1 at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Olowo Rotimi Emmanuel never hesitated to commend the former Vice-Chairman of Somolu local government and currently Commissioner I, Lagos State Local Government Commission, Hon. Abiodun Orekoya for such a laudable project.
He adds, “To start with, we must appreciate Hon. Biodun Orekoya for the thought and action, it doesn’t have to do with the thinking alone, when one thinks, one must put action into it and that’s what Hon. Biodun Orekoya has done”.
“To buttress what ALGON President said, the problem we have in Nigeria is about the youths. We don’t cater for them nor give them the right tools to work for them to establish themselves. We must support their talents.”
Similarly, the Executive Chairman of Somolu local government, Hon. AbdulHamed Salawu ‘Dullar’ in his remarks also harped on the need to engage the youth positively so as to keep them off the streets and who’ll thereafter become the community ambassadors.
In his assertion, one of the Somolu All Progressive Congress Apex leaders who were in attendance, Hon. Ademola Olisa applauded the initiative describing it as a right step in the right direction that’ll not only keep the youths off the street but help them achieve their career goal in life.
Orekoya Alliance Tournament (OAT) is an annual football event that cuts across Somolu federal constituency consisting of Somolu and Bariga put together by the Chairman of Biodun Orekoya Foundation Hon. Biodun Orekoya.