The Kwara State Governor, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq says the re-introduction of the State Sports Festival is to demonstrate to the people at the grassroots that his administration is determined to bring youth to the limelight and ensure that their bountiful sports talents are identified and nurtured to stardom.
Governor Abdulrazaq who was represented by his Deputy, Mr Kayode Alabi stated this at the flag off ceremony of the Torch-of-Unity for the Seventh Kwara State Sports Festival tagged KWASFEST 2020 in Ilorin.
He explained that the re-introduction of KWASFEST which has been on exile for almost two decades represented a progressive transition from decadence to reasonable, responsive and responsible governance that would offer the entire citizens ample opportunities to be engaged meaningfully.
The Governor added that apart from the festival, the State Government is also taking various steps and initiating numerous schemes to mould youths in the right image via the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development to ensure that the instrumentality of sports magic is deployed to better the lives of the people.
Mallam Abdulrazaq therefore thanked the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development and the Main Organising Committee for their commitment and selfless service and expressed hope that with the support of key stakeholders, the event would come out in flying colour.
In his remark, the Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Engineer Yakubu Salihu Danladi represented by the Chairman House Committee on Sports, Honourable Ayokunle Awolola assured the MOC of the Assembly’s support towards a hitch free festival, explaining that the House would ensure that all the deplorable condition of the State Sporting Facilities are upgraded as captured in the Budget recently presented by the Governor.
The State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Joana Inazua Kolo appreciated the state governor for approving the staging of the festival, stressing that the competition is a template to engage youth in meaningful venture and a beginning of many good things to come in the State.
Kolo who is also the Chairman of the Main Organizing Committee gave an assurance that the festival would be sustained as parts of laudable programmes of the present administration for the youth.
…MOC tour LGs
In Continuation of the preparation for the 7th Edition of Kwara Sports Festival after the Flag Off of torch of Unity by the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, the Torch of unity moved to Offa, Oyun and lrepodun Local Government Areas of the State.
Speaking during the visitations, the Vice-Chairman, Main Organising Committee MOC, 7th edition of the Festival Games, Hameed Adio, appreciated the warm reception by the local Governments and informed them on the adequate Preparations of the Kwara state Government to Stage a memorable Edition of the Festival Games coming up on 25th of this month.
Adio, who described sports as a tool that can be used to unify people irrespective of their religions, races and Cultural backgrounds, said that the main aim of staging the sports festival was to discover hidden talents at the grassroots and nurture them to stardom.
He urged parents to always allow their children to partake in sporting activities in order to contribute their quotas to sports development of the country.
The Chairman hinted that over three thousand athletes across the sixteen LGAs are expected to participate in the event.
Adio assured hosts of adequate Security during the event, noting that the hostel accommodation at the Kwara State College of Education would be used to camp all the participating athletes across the sixteen Local Government Areas.
Receiving the Committee Members, the Directors Personnel and Management of the Local Government Areas visited commended the relentless efforts of the committee in making the event Successful and assured the readiness of the Local Government Areas to participate actively in the event.
While appreciating the Kwara State Governor for revamping all the sectors in the State, the DPMs promised that all their athletes would be well represented in the various sporting events at the festival.
The MOC Members Had earlier paid homage to Royal Fathers of the towns in the three local government areas where they received royal blessings and prayer for successful staging of the event.
