Why I Agreed To Head Board Of Lagos State Sports Trust Fund – Femi Pedro

Chairman of Lagos State Sports Trust Fund, Otunba Femi Pedro has given reasons he accepted to head the Board of Trustees of Lagos State Sports Trust Fund.

P.M. EXPRESS reports that Pedro, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, was appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Lagos State Sports Trust Fund by the erstwhile Governor of the state, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. The Sports Trust Fund was a body created by Lagos State Law of 2017 and the Board of Trustees was inaugurated by Governor Ambode in March, 2018.

The Sports Trust Fund was created primarily to play a critical role in financing the development and promotion of sports, sporting activities and facilities in Lagos State.

“I am happy contributing my quota to help in reshaping the lives and future of this state because these athletes are going to be world champions in their respective discipline someday,” Pedro said during a stakeholders meeting with the operators of lottery and sports betting companies in Lagos last weekend.

“This job is more fulfilling to me than anything else because it gives me the opportunity of contributing to the development of our future leaders and to make sure that they are positively engaged to exhibit their God-given talents in sports.

“I am having over 20 years experience in the private sector especially in the banking industries. I know what I worth and I won’t want to soil my name and reputation which I had painstakingly built over the years. So for these reasons, funds to be generated by the Lagos State Sports Trust Fund are in safe hands, This is what I want to assure all our stakeholders.

“I am also happy that I have men and women of impeccable characters, integrity and honourable on the Board who we will be working together to deliver on the mandate giving to us. This is my joy and happiness.

“Our administrative expenses are very low as our activities are technologically driven. We will display high level of technology to do all our works,” said Pedro, who emphasised that he and other board members have the vision of making Lagos State Sports Trust Fund a world-class trust fund, propelling Lagos to become the leading sports hub in Africa.

P.M EXPRESS reports that the Board of Trustees of Lagos State Sports Trust Fund is peopled with men and women whose experience would be a great advantage in delivering the job. One of the board members is Mr. Enitan Oshodi, former Commissioner for Sports in Lagos State who is currently the President International Table Tennis Federation, Africa-Western Region.

Others are Dr. Kweku Adedayo Tandor, who is the Executive Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission. Tandor, an astute sports administrator of international repute was the Secretary General of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of 18th National Sports Festival, Eko 2012. Mr. Oluwatoyin Bolowotan, the Director General of Lagos State Sports Commission, Mrs. Omolola Essien, chairman of Lagos Mainland Local Government, who is representing local governments in Lagos on the board, Mr. Kenneth Odusanya, a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).

Also on the Board are Barrister Oladipo Awe, a foremost legal practitioner and consultant, Ms. Moyo Ogunseinde, chairman. Lagos State Gymnastics Association and founder of Upbeat Centre, a recreation centre based in Lekki, Lagos. She is also a British-trained architect. Mr. Koye Adejumo, a businessman of repute, Mr. Akin Ogunlana, an agro-entrepreneur and retired Public Relations Officer, Mr. Panadonu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Mr. Olaposi Agunbiade, who is the Executive Secretary of the Board.

Otunba Femi Pedro (5th left) with other members of the Board of Trustees of Lagos State Sports Trust Fund