Date: 2016-10-19

The Kwara State Government says it is committed to engaging the youths through sports with a view to developing their mental psyche and human capital.

The Chief of Staff, Government House, Ilorin, Alhaji Yusuf Babatunde Abdulwahab stated this on Tuesday when he received members of the Sports Writers Association (SWAN) led by its State Chairman, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Bibire in his office. He said the government is aware of the enormous responsibility of moulding t

he youths towards productive venture, pointing out that sports is a key ingredient in reducing youths restiveness in the society.

While speaking on Indoor Sports Hall of the State Stadium, Alhaji Yusuf noted that the government is keen to renovating the edifice into an international standard.

According to him, the cost of the renovation has been done and government is set to financing the project through the Infrastructure Development Fund. On Kwara Football Academy (KFA), Alhaji Yusuf explained that efforts were on to bring in investor into KFA through Harmony Holdings Limited.

The Chief of Staff, however, expressed concern over the inability of the Kwara United Football to return to the Nigeria Professional Football League this season, promising that the Club would go back to the drawing board and turn around the fortunes of the State football Club.

He said the government would look into the cause of staying in the Nigeria National League and take necessary action to enable it return to the elite side. Speaking earlier, the State Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Alhaji Abdulwaheed Bibire had explained that the leadership of SWAN is poised to supporting the government in the promotion of sports sector through public-private partnership.

Alhaji Bibire who commended the government for providing conducive environment said four different national sporting had taken place in Kwara State in recent times in view of the peaceful nature of the state.

He tasked the government to give the Indoor Sports Hall a facelift as well as salvaging the Kwara United Football Club from continuous stay in the Nigeria National League.

He therefore solicited support towards organising a Charity Match tagged:"Maigida plays for Charity with Ex-Internationals and the forthcoming SWAN Scrabble Competition, slated for 14 and 15 of November among Media houses in the state.