The Osun State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has welcomed the steps being taken by the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke to attract investment into the state’s sports industry.
We described the Governor’s engagement with investors in the sports business sector as a positive development capable of opening new opportunities for sports development, talent discovery, employment generation and economic growth in the state.
We particularly welcomed the proposed establishment of a football manufacturing factory in the Osun State Free Trade Zone and the planned football talent academy aimed at developing young footballers in the state.
Such initiatives, if properly implemented, could complement existing government efforts and reposition sports as an important component of the state’s economic and youth development agenda.
However, while commending the initiative, we want to urge the state government to sustain its attention on the institutional development of sports by facilitating the actualisation of the Osun State Sports Commission Bill, which has already been passed by the State House of Assembly.
The establishment and effective take-off of the Sports Commission would provide a stronger institutional framework for the administration, development and promotion of sports across the state.
We also appeal to the Governor to expedite that could hasten the completion of the Osogbo Township Stadium, describing the project as an important sports infrastructure that could complement the proposed investments, talent development programmes and other sporting activities in the state.
The combination of private-sector investment, a functional sports commission and modern sporting infrastructure would further strengthen Osun’s sports ecosystem and create opportunities for athletes, coaches, sports administrators and other stakeholders.
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