The Chairman of Ekiti State Sports Council, Prince Ade Adetola has warned against encroachment on Ikere Ekiti Stadium by some individuals in the town who have illegally acquired part of the land to erect private buildings.
Prince Adetola gave the warning at the Stadium Complex during an athletics competition among public secondary schools in Ikere in memory of Chief Patrick Owoeye Ijasan who died a year ago.
The Sports Council boss also called on the management of Ikere Local Government Area to assist the State government in maintaining the stadium.
Prince Adetola commended the Managing Director of Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority, Engr. Ajibade Ijasan who sponsored the competition and urged him to make the programme an annual event.
He advised Sports masters and students of the participating schools to avail themselves of the opportunity of the competition to prepare for the forthcoming Ekiti State Sports Festival.
In his remarks, the Sponsor, Engr. Ajibade Ijasan thanked the former National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Steve Alabi for facilitating the competition and expressed the willingness of the family to make it a continuous one in order to groom future sports stars.
He advised students of the participating schools to be disciplined and use the platform as a training ground where they could be identified for stardom.
Also speaking, the Osolo of Ikere Ekiti, Chief Joseph Jongbo who is also the Zonal Chairman of Sports Committee in Ikere, appealed to the people of the town to emulate the gesture of the sponsor by collaborating with government to move Sports industry to greater heights.
Chief Jongbo however pleaded with the State government to develop at the stadium and forestall further encroachment on the stadium land.
Ten public secondary schools in Ikere competed in track events which include 1500m, 400m, 200m, 100m, 4×100 m and 4x400m boys/girls while outstanding athletes and schools received prizes and certificates.
Last modified: April 6, 2012
