Amosun Receives Festival Torch

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has promised that more jobs will be created through sports in the state to discourage the youth from social vices.

The governor stated this today during a brief ceremony at his Oke Mosan office in Abeokuta, while receiving the National Sports Festival Torch from the South West Zone 1 Coordinator of the National Sports Commission, Stephen Olarinoye.

Presenting the torch to Amosun, Olarinoye said: “I thank the governor for the privilege and honour given to us. Ogun State is the 23rd state that will be receiving the torch, we shall be moving to Lagos State from here.

“The flag-off ceremony was conducted by the President, Dr.Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja on 10 May, 2011,” he added.

Responding, the state governor thanked the commission and promised that Ogun State will perform better at this year’s Festival.

According to Amosun, “On behalf of the good people of Ogun State, I welcome you and your team to the Gateway State. Our administration sports’ policy will be people-oriented and we are going to use the advantages of sports to provide job opportunities for our teeming youths and discover more talents that will continue to make the state proud in sporting activities.

The government promised to support the state contigents to the Festival, which will be hosted by Rivers State, and I want to use this opportunity to tell all those that will be participating in the Festival to allow fairplay to be their watchword”.

The governor later took the torch round the State House before handing it over to the athletes who in turn took it round the major areas in Abeokuta.

—Abiodun Onafuye/ Abeokuta