3rd Anniversary: Tandoh Gives Accounts Of Robust Ambode’s Achievements In Sports

Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr Kweku Adedayo Tandoh (right) and the Director General of the Commission, Hon Babatunde Bank-Anthony at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja on Tuesday. 

Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr Kweku Adedayo Tandoh has given accounts how the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has fared in the area of sports as he celebrates third year in office this month.

With long robust list of what had happened in Lagos sports arena in the last one year, Dr Tandoh,  while speaking at the 19th inter ministerial press briefing to commemorate the third year in office of Governor Ambode at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja on Tuesday, said that the focus is on schools  sports development with the aim at catching them young at the very tender age.

He disclosed that series of tournaments were organised to keep the athletes busy, while in the year under review, many of the state’s athletes who represented the country at international competitions came back with outstanding performance.

He said the Governor approved the proposal for the development of a four-year strategic sports development plan for the Sports Commission, which is being midwifed by PricewaterhouseCoopers Limited. The aim of the plan is to put the Commission on the right path to conforming to modern best practice in sports administration and management.

In the area of capacity building, apart from exposing the staff to various relevant training opportunities in the last one year, Dr Tandoh said: “many more training programs have been earmarked for the staff of the sports commission for the rest of the year.” On infrastructural development, he said works are ongoing on the renovation and massive rehabilitation of some sports facilities across the state.

“This marks the biggest investment on renovation and upgrading of our sports facilities by the state government since 2012. When Onikan Stadium is completed, it will be an all covered ultra modern international stadium with FIFA certified artificial turf. The stadium will be a multipurpose arena with 10, 000 seating capacity where entertainment concerts and other activities would be staged.”

The talent identification program of the state has continued to yield results, which according to Dr Tandoh, has put the state as the production engine room for Nigerian Sports.

Going forward, the chairman of the sports conmission, disclosed that the state has lined up series of tournaments between now and the year ending. The events include Lagos State Secondary School Swimming Championships, Lagos State Deaf Games, Lagos State Traditional Sports Games, Lagos State Secondary School Table Tennis League, National Youth Games and the National Sports Festival.