31st May, 2013
Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola and his deputy, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire are among the adoptees of the 57 athletes of the Adopt-A-Talent Sports Programme unveiled at an elaborate ceremony in Lagos yesterday.
The unveiling ceremony, which was presided over by Governor Fashola, was a formal presentation to the public the athletes who have been taken over by sponsors out of 170 athletes of the talent discovery programme of the Lagos State government.
Fashola is sponsoring 20 of the athletes, while his deputy, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire will be paying the bills of 10 athletes. Chief of Staff, Mr. Lanre Babalola is sponsoring four athletes. Sports Commissioner, Wahid Enitan Oshodi is taking care of two table tennis athletes. Prince ‘Wale Oladunjoye, Chairman of the Management Committee of the programme, who is also the Senior Special Assistant on Grassroots Sports Development to the Governor is taking care of the bills of three athletes.
Others sponsors are Chief Pius Akinyelure, chairman of the Local Organising Committee, LOC, of the annual Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship, who alongside his vice chairman in the LOC, Engr. Afolabi Salami are sponsoring two athletes each. Major Tunde Panox (retd.), Dr. Niran Adeniji and Mrs. S. Ojo, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Chief of Staff are sponsoring one athlete each.
Speaking at the event held at the banquet hall of the Governor’s Office in Alausa, Ikeja, Fashola said: “I want to thank all the sponsors for coming at this moment to adopt these athletes. What our sponsors are doing today is that they are investing in the future of our youth and I believe that these athletes will not disappoint them as they pursue their career in sports and education.”
Prince Oladunjoye said it costs less than N15,000 a month to adopt a talent.
—Sunday Akintoye