Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has promised to construct a befitting media centre to accommodate sports journalists coming to cover the National Sports Festival, tagged ‘Gateway Games 2024.’
Governor Abiodun gave the assurance during an on-the-spot assessment tour of facilities at the Alake Sports Centre, Ijeja and MKO international Stadium, Kuto Abeokuta.
This followed the request of the Chairman of the Ogun State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji.
Responding, the governor Abiodun acknowledged the crucial roles of sports writers in the propagation of sporting activities in the state, adding that the media centre is necessary to create a conducive atmosphere for journalists for further interactions with stakeholders during and after the events.
He said, “It is commendable that we should have the media centre here and we will ensure that it is incorporated in the bills of the construction, just as we have media centre at Oke Mosan, we shall also have a befitting media centre here so that you and the rest of your team do not need to travel far for the festival and other sporting events at the stadium.”
Governor Abiodun, who was accompanied by top government functionaries, particularly, the Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Wasiu Isiaka, expressed the optimism that the stadium, when completed, would be ranked as the best and attract national and international events to the state.
He expressed satisfaction with the level of professionalism being demonstrated by the contractors handling the ongoing construction and renovation works across the major sporting facilities in the state.
Earlier, the SWAN Chairman, Ogunsiji, said the construction of the media centre would avail journalists across the country access to data and information during and after the festival.
Ogunsiji told the governor that the media centre would outlive the National Sports Festival and serves as part of the legacy of the current administration in sports developments.
The SWAN chairman noted that the provision of the media centre would make the stadium a complete sports hub with the construction of chalets for athletes and visitors.
He noted that the ongoing overhauling in the sports sector of the state is a further testament that empowering the youths is not just a priority for the governor, but it is the cornerstone of the ‘ISEYA’ agenda of the governor.
He, however, commended the governor for taking a bold step in giving both Alake Sports Centre, Ijeja and MKO Abiola International Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta a deserved facelift ahead if the National Sports Festival.
