Two bills, including the Ogun State Sports Commission Law, 2019 and Ogun State Sports Trust Fund Law, 2019 meant to promote development of sporting activities, infrastructure and equipment through the involvement of the private sector have scaled second reading on the floor of the State House of Assembly.
The bills titled: “HB No 025/OG/2019- A Bill for a Law to Provide for the Establishment of the Ogun State Sports Commission and for Connected Purposes” and “HB. No. 26/OG/2019- A Bill for a Law to Provide for the Establishment of the Ogun State Sports Trust Fund and for Connected Purposes” got the unanimous approval of lawmakers at a plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan.
Hon. Sola Adams while opening debate on the Sports Commission Law, 2019, shortly after moving the motion for the second reading, which was seconded by Hon. Haruna Abiodun and supported by the Whole House through a voice vote, stated that the sports sector in the State would be better repositioned for more efficiency and optimum performance.
According to him, the bill was meant to revamp the sector dominated by the youth to create a functional commission that would be responsible for effective management of sports and allied matters, with a view to ensuring effective management of facilities and athletes in the sector.
Corroborating Adam’s view, other lawmakers including Abdul Bashir Oladunjoye, Bolanle Ajayi, Musefiu Lamidi, Atinuke Bello, Abayomi Fasuwa and Kemi Oduwole, who took turn to lend their support for the bill, said the operationalization of the bill would enhance youth development through scouting for more sport talents, while giving opportunity to seasoned administrators in the private sectors to contribute their quota to the development of sports at the grassroot level.
Also contributing to the debate on the State Sports Trust Fund Law, 2019, members including Adams, Bolanle Ajayi, Musefiu Lamidi, Tunde Oladunjoye, Sylvester Abiodun, Damilola Soneye and Yusuf Sherif, posited that State which paraded talents and potentials in sports needed pool of financial resources in partnership with private sector to further increase interest of youth in sporting events, thereby reducing social vices.
Calling for the appointment of people with proven integrity in the administration of the funds, the lawmakers said the bill would spell out modalities for establishing a trust fund geared towards attracting philanthropists and corporate organisations to contribute funds to put in place State of the art facilities and modern equipment in Stadia across the State.
Also, Honourables Abayomi Fasunwa, Oludaisi Elemide, Ganiyu Oyedeji, Atinuke Bello and Yusuff Abiodun, stressed the need to allow for diversification of sports ranging from Sports marketing and investment which need to be considered in the implementation of the bill, towards creating global best practices in sport administration in the State.
Applauding his colleague-lawmakers for their meaningful contributions to the bills, Speaker Oluomo, who underscored the need to engage more youth in sporting activities, thereafter charged the bills to the Committee on Youth, Sports and Employment Generation.
