FG will invest more in sports development – Osinbajo

By Ese Awhotu

The Federal Government has expressed its desire to take sports in Nigeria to the next level through grassroots development.
Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo who disclosed this at a youth football sports tournament put together by Justice For Nigeria, a nongovernmental organization to support the initiative of the present administration especially on youth empowerment through sports said sports can contribute over three percent to the Gross Domestic Product GDP, of the country.
The Vice President who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Monitoring and Evaluation, office of the vice President, Mr Tunde Osibamowo said the federal government would invest more in sporting activities in the country.
While commending the initiator of the competition for his efforts towards taking sports to the next level, Professor Yemi Osinbajo noted that the present administration would take advantage of the sector to boost employment generation in line with its policy,
The initiator of Buhari Osinbajo youth football tournament, Mr Sola Orelaja said there was need to keep the youths engaged and busy, especially as the country heightens preparation for elections.
The FIFA licenced agent and a retired professional footballer who once played in the English Premier League, Stationary Stores football club of Lagos, and ASEC Memosa of Cote d’Ivoire among others as well as working with some top European coaches said the time to move the Nigerian football to a greater level is now by harnessing the young talents.
Sola Orelaja is also the agent that discovered Dele Alampasu among other talents in Nigeria.
Teams from sixteen out of the twenty local government areas of Ogun state participated in the one day competition.