From Priscilla Ofunre, Ado-Ekiti
A community in Ekiti, Oye-Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area of the state, has organized sports contest and cultural fiesta to provide jobs, promote unity and reduce poverty.
The sporting activities come in form of an on going football tournament among the youths which will end on January 3, 2020, with a raffle draw and worship/Jazz concert and will be graced by the state’s Commissioner for Youths and Sports , Mr. Awopeju Adewunmi and all members of the state House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Funminiyi Afuye.
Chief organiser of the programme who is mainly financing it through his NGO, Bridgewaters Foundation and collaborating with Oye youths association, Mr. Segun Oke, said the community has embarked on the project in order to get rid of unemployment and develop the sports potentials of the people as well as harness the cultural potentials of the community for growth and development.
READ ALSO:http://Sokoto lawmaker slumps, dies inside chambers
Speaking about the programme, he said: “The news making the rounds that Oye community is fighting is not true. What is true is that the new Oye kingdom are having an exciting competition in football league. This has been happening for a long time now and it is been done to promote youth engagement.It is also to bring together all the people that make Oye kingdom, promote unity and preserve our cultural heritage.To raise spits stars among our youth and create jobs.
” Bridgewater FC is sponsoring the programme and we will have its final on January 3, 2020, coupled with a major concert which will resemble an Olympic opening. There will also be a raffle draw on same day through which many would win exciting prizes. Local business people who have supported the programme will also have the opportunity to advertise their business and showcase their commitment to social development. We keep promoting the relationship between businesses and sports. We see business, small or big as local business in order to ensure that they are made to promote growth and development.
” We are experimenting with the league here to see how we can use sports to create economic boom. We are creating a new model having in mind that there is a lot of money in the premiership, we are working towards creating wealth with sports. This is a test ground and we will build on it to see how we can use sports to create wealth for our community, the state and Africa as a whole.We also use the medium to express our gratitude to God for keeping us and we enjoy all our lovers and friends and all illustrious sons and daughters of Oye to join us to celebrate during the grand finale,”
” We are also using the platform to mind ideas from the young people who worked together to make this happen, how we can organise our sports and social engagements to generate wealth and job. If our economy must develop, we must place value on indigenous creativity and youth engagement”, he said.