25th April, 2014
Taiwo Okanlawon
Directors of Sports, General Managers of Sports Councils and the Directors in charge of sports in the Ministries of Education in the six southwest states said they were impressed by the standard of sports facilities which Lagos will use for the forthcoming Developmental Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Games, which holds from 16-24 May.
Sports officials in the southwest states were in Lagos yesterday to inspect the facilities to be used for the DAWN Games (South West Secondary Schools Games) at Rowe Park Sports Complex, Yaba; Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere; Agege Stadium and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Camp in Iyana-Ipaja, which will serve as the Games Village. After the inspection, which lasted several hours, the inspectors told P.M.NEWS Sports that they were more than satisfied with the preparation of the Local Organising Committee, LOC, of the school sports tournament to host the rest of the region.
The South-West Zonal Co-ordinator of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Steve Olarinoye said the facilities were still in good shape after being used by Lagos State during Eko 2012.
“I’m not surprised that the facilities are still in good shape. Lagos State is a pacesetter and has always been in the front of sports development, so the inspection is only to confirm that the state is ready to host the games”, he said.
The General Secretary of the LOC, Tranih Nunayon, reiterated the determination of the state to show its hospitality to the visitors during the game, adding that both the Lagos State government and the private sectors while adequate security is assured.
The Director of Sports for Lagos State and member of the DAWN Games, Kweku Tandoh, said 2,000 athletes with and officials as well as a good number of media men and women.
“There nothing that is not been taken care of concerning this DAWN Games. We are ready,” he said.