Sports can reduce insecurity in Nigeria – Kwara Commissioner

Sports development is a veritable strategy to reduce youth restiveness and insecurity in  Nigeria, the  Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development in Kwara State, Mr. Kayode Towoju, has said.

In an interview with our correspondent  on Thursday after the closing ceremony of the First Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed Badminton Championship in Ilorin, Towoju said sports could be used to reposition and re-channel the energies of the youths to productive endeavours.

He stated that if the youths were properly and adequately engaged in sporting activities, their propensity and susceptibility of indulgence in crimes would be greatly reduced.He urged sports people to be disciplined, focused and committed.

He said that government alone could not effectively fund sport, adding that all stakeholders, such as individuals and corporate organisations should complement government’s efforts in sports development.

He said the state government was poised to develop all aspects of sports, adding that the state government would soon award contracts for the renovation of the Kwara State Stadium Indoor Sports Hall to international standards.

Towoju said, “We  do not want to develop only badminton.  We want to develop all sports.  We have the potential.  The governor is already working towards awarding the contract for the renovation of this indoor sports hall to international standard. To make the athletes to enjoy,  we encourage them through employment.

“About 20 of them were given employment through Kwara State Bridge Empowerment Scheme. There are still other areas that we feel we can encourage them.”