New Dawn For Lagos Archery, Inaugurates 25 Clubs, Honours 11 Eminent Nigerians As Patrons

 

Less than six months after inauguration, the Board of Lagos State Archery Association unveiled series of programmes to not only popularise the sport in the state, but also to take the game further into the grassroots among Lagosians and educational sector.

On Saturday at the Sports Bar of the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, the Board under the chairmanship of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Bode Ojajuni held a twin event; the inauguration of 16 new and four  existing clubs and five schools clubs as well as the investiture of new Patrons.

Speaking at the event which has as its theme “Archery: Connecting the Triangle of Sports Development, Youth Development and Sports Tourism, ACP Olajuni said that the inauguration of the Board on 5^th December, 2018 set the pace for the development  and promotion of the Olympic sport in Lagos.

The inaugurated clubs are Apapa Executive 1 & 2, Apapa Progressives Archery Club, Ikorodu 1 & 2, CNI. Magazine Archery Club, Badagry Archery Club, Ojo Archery Club, FESTAC Archery Club, FESTAC Executive  Archery Club, UNILAG Archery Club, Surulere Archery Club, Cardoso Archery Club, MBA Archery Club, Orege Archery Club and Olodi Apapa Archery Club.

Existing clubs that were inaugurated included Lekki Archery Club, Zone 2 Police Archery Club, FortMarariola Archery Club and Safari Hunters Archery Club.

Five schools archery clubs were also inaugurated which included West Mills College Archery Club, Padema Schools Archery Club, Pinefield Schools Archery Club, Yeolan Schools Archery Clubs and Enfield College Archery Club.

Eminent Nigerians whose are notable people in businesses, politics and other sphere of life were honoured as Patrons of the association. They included the Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Lagos, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, House of Representative member, Hon. Egberongbe Mufutau, representing Apapa Federal Constituency, Hon. Ademorin Kuye, representing Somolu Federal Constituency, business mogul, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, Chairman Sifax Groups of Companies, broadcaster Mrs. Funke Oga, Hon. Hazeez Babajide Akintoye, Dr. Amy Jadesimi, Mr. Wole Madariola, Chief Igho Dafinone and Sir Henry Muogho

“These are distinguished and carefully selected patrons, awardees who are seasoned professionals and accomplished business men and women, politicians and captains of industry who have been selected on merit to come and contribute their quota in developing this sport in our dear state,” ACP Ojajuni said.

President of Nigeria Archery Federation, the national body of the sport in the country, Mohammed Baba Abdullahi, who spoke through the media officer of the federation, Mr. Patrick Ibeh paid glowing tributes to the Lagos State Archery Association for being the pacesetter of the development and popularisation of the sport in the country, adding that “history of archery sport in Nigeria will not be completed without the mention of Lagos where it all began from the cradle, little wonder as Lagos State has achieved this milestone of fast development. This occasion gladdens our heart as a family and it is a challenge for other states that are already practising the sport as a discipline.

“Archery  has state chapters in FCT Abuja, Niger, Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Ogun, Oyo, Imo, Zamfara, Kwara and Nasarawa States, apart from institutional establishment associations and clubs such as the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Police and Civil Defence) Fire Brigade, Immigration, Prisons and Road Safety,” the president said.

He commended the Lagos State Sports Commission under its chairman, Dr. Kweku Tandoh who made it possible to give archery sport the well deserved status and attention.

The occasion was spiced up with the inaugural lecture delivered by Prof. Tunde Makanju and the presentation of Lagos State Archery Association’s Strategic Plan 2019-2023.