The former Executive Secretary of Somolu local government and commissioner I, Lagos State Local Government Commission, Hon. Abiodun Orekoya has called on state and the third tier of government to find a way of making provision for formidable sporting facilities in Somolu so as for the youth in the community to have access to sporting facilities to train with in order to compete favourably with their counterparts when the need arises.
The former Vice-Chairman of the Somolu local council made this known while speaking to Somolu News shortly after the final of the Orekoya Alliance Tournament at the Yabatech Sports Complex, Yaba, Lagos where he said the youth in the community must be engaged positively through sports activities which can only be done when there’s viable sporting facilities that’ll pave way for considerable grassroots sports development in the community.
“It’s very disheartening to see youth roaming the street aimlessly when many of them talented with one skill or the other which is the reason why I decided to organize Orekoya Alliance Tournament to harness football talents in Somolu/Bariga and provision of sporting will no doubt be an added advantage”. He stated
He continued, “And with governments involvement through the provision of a sporting facility like mini-stadium will further enhance youth productivity in the area of sporting activities which will go a long way in keeping them off the streets and thereafter make them become the community ambassadors in their respective field”.
Similarly, one of the Apex leaders in the community, Hon. Ademola Olisa-Adefalujo also urged the government to focus more on youth engagement especially in the area of grassroots sports development.
“If we really want the youth to be useful, we need to start to engage them because there are many talents in the community, and in doing that the government must make provision for sporting facilities for them to achieve their sporting goals as expected.
“Although, we don’t have enough lands in Somolu except government acquire or buy some houses to build such facilities which is only possible and easier with government intervention. The community no doubt has produced several sports heroes and heroines who are doing us proud in and out outside community. For instance, Jide Omotayo and Funke Oshinaike are table tennis top players in Europe who’re all doing fine and making us proud, they’re products of Somolu and that’s exactly what we want as far as as sports is concerned in the community”.
The political juggernauts, however, stressed the need for government drastic measures and act fast so as to curb social vices in the community and thereafter bring pride and honour to the Somolu/Bariga community.