Executive Director Finance and Chief Financial Officer of OES Energy Services, Chief Adegboyega Adegoke, has on Sunday advised states and the federal government to developed grassroots sports as a way to curb various social vices among the youths in the country.
Adegoke, who is the Mogaji of Abose compound in Olubadan traditional lineage gave this advice while speaking as Chairman of the NNL Match Day 3 between Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) and Osun United Football Club which ended 3-0 in favor of the home team, 3SC held in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
Adegoke while urging States and federal government to invest more in local football and grassroots competitions, insisted that government can reduce social vices among the youths through grassroots sports.
The Mogaji who announced a donation of 3000 dollars to the club, tasked the stakeholders to join hands together to return the past glory back to 3SC by ensuring that it return back to Premier league.
Adegoke said, “There are many social vices in Nigeria to which we can prevent if the government invest in grassroots sports. The government should develop our own local football clubs, by this many youths will be engaged and then they will be shunning social vices. When youths are fully engaged, they will have no time to commit crimes.
“I am happy that our team, 3SC, the pride of Ibadan, pride of Oyo State, pride of South West Geo-Political Zone secured a victory against other South West team from our baby state, at least it is clear to everybody that Osun state was created from old Oyo State, so Osun is our baby.
“3SC as I said earlier is a pride to everyone of us here, in the past 3SC had even made the country proud by winning many Laurel for the state and the country as a whole.
“We all need to join hands together to return the past glory back to 3SC by ensuring that it return back to Premier league, in my own little way I give this 3000 dollars to 3SC and I will continue to contribute my qouta for upliftment of the team.
“3SC is not about any political party but about the glory and pride of the state, and we all know sports especially football is a uniting factor irrespective of tribe or party affiliation, football always bring everyone together.
“Sports is one of the tool for Youths development, so it is necessary for our government at local, state and federal levels that believe in youth development to continue to allocate huge amount to sports development.
“In my own little way in contributing to youth development, my foundation, Adegboyega Adegoke resource Centre has device a vocational training for Youths both male and female in several aspects like candle and soap making, hair dressing, chalk making, tailoring and others. Some have graduated while some are still undergoing the training.
“And I am want to use this opportunity as we are approaching the end of the year and prepare for new year, I will want to Implore our road users and motorists to particularly commercial drivers against impatience, over speeding, over loading while plying highways as these were among the major causes of road accidents.
“I want to advise them to equip themselves with the knowledge of highway codes as part of measure to guide against road accidents. I want to also call on relevant stakeholders to work together in the bid to ensure a safer motoring environment within Oyo state and Nigeria as a whole during and after these ember months.
“Also appealed to government at all levels to fix all bad roads, as most of the highways have become death traps. As we all know impatience and lack of knowledge of the highway codes, over speeding and over loading were among the leading causes of accidents.
“I want to advise pedestrians to always walk carefully and constantly face upcoming vehicles while walking on the pedestrian path of the roads. Ember months are regarded as period of festivities, it is necessary for all stakeholders to prepare towards ensuring the safety of lives of Nigerians while on the road”.
