The chief executive officer of Webber Engineering Nigeria limited,
Babalola Opeyemi has donated Sporting Facilities worth N9M to St.
Anthony Secondary School, Ilorin, Kwara state in his bid to strengthen
educational development and enhance the health and wellbeing of
students through physical recreational activities.
The development happened at the end of the two days organised Clinic
and Workshops for over 120 kids from selected schools which took place
inside the premises of St. Anthony where the facilities was
constructed.
While commending the Kwara state basketball association and others in
Ilorin for their contributions and sacrifices towards the development,
Babalola noted that the decision to embark on the project was borne
out of the realisation that sports through education remains critical
to driving socio-economic development in Nigeria and pointed out that
the absence of modern Sport infrastructures in schools has
consequently undermined the mental and physical development of
students in Sports.
He affirmed that the standard of sports development at his former
school (St Anthony) has declined over the years and mentioned names of
past basketball players and athletes like
Sunday Bada, Bisi Afolabi and Akinremi sisters that rose through the
college to represent Nigeria at International sporting events.
Webber said: ” Our desire is to see these strategic and need-driven
youth empowerment interventions culminate in equipping our Nigerian
youths for a bright future and there is also need to further provide
an enabling and competitive environment together with trainers for the
students to thrive because we can’t just leave the kids to only
practice without evaluating”. He concluded.
Prinicipal of the School, Mrs Afolayan Feyisayo, in her submission,
thanked webber for his kind gesture and commended him and other
contributors who contributed their personal funds for the project. She
expressed confidence that the facilities will encourage students
towards their mental development and help in raising a new generation
of Nigeria youths and called on other corporate organizations to
emulate webber and give back to the society.
Similarly, Technical Director of the camp, Coach Michael Akuboh
praised webber’s commitments towards giving back to this Alma Mata and
called on government to give attention to sports, saying, this space
will provide daily inspiration to young ones to achieve at the highest
levels of their careers.
The new N9M facilities which came with playing equipments and other
materials will feature a basketball court, handball court, volleyball
court and other related equipments to support sports development.
High profile basketball veterans, coaches and trainers across the
nation were also part of the clinic. They were lead by Coach Peter
Ahmedu of Dolphins basketball club, Rasheed Bello, Coach Steve,
Perpetua Clement, Baba Jubril of Kwara Falcons and others.
The official commissioning of the facilities will take place tomorrow
inside the school premises where the deputy governor of the state,
Kayode Alabi is expected to lead other special guests at the occasion.
Webber grew up in Ilorin and played basketball at St. Anthony
Secondary School. He remained in Kwara and also played basketball
during his unversity days at University of Ilorin and later
represented Kwara Falcons, Dodan Warriors and other clubs.
Off the court, he was known for his passion for engineering and
established his construction company which has since been involved in
several projects across the country. Just of recent, he collaborated
with the Kwara state basketball association in providing top class
basketball facilities for the state.
