By Abimbola Joseph
CITIZENS COMPASS– Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Gbolahan Ogunleye, yesterday, urged youths to take advantage of the facility at sports centres to develop themselves and not wait for the government.
Ogunleye (APC-Ikorodu 1) gave the advice during the handing over of table tennis boards to youths at Ita-Elewa sport centre in Ikorodu, Lagos
The Citizen Comapss reports that the lawmaker also gave the table tennis boards to Famous youths and in the past distributed the same to some primary schools to improve extracurricular activities in schools.
“I focused on sport extra-curricular so that youths in Ikorodu can develop themselves and probably choose a career in it.
“My focus is not only on school children, but to also considered those who are out of school that can make us proud as table tennis player in Ikorodu,” he said.
The lawmaker said the reason he prioritised and focused on improving sport in the community was to engage youths and drastically reduce crime prevalence among them.
Ogunleye said the choice of table tennis was borne out of the need to bring people together, it is easy to learn, not a physical contact game that can be organised on a small space and also a game of peace played world-wide.
The lawmaker said the focal part of his inclusive representation as a lawmaker was basically human development as done by the late siege, Chief Obafemi Awolowo during his time.
According to the lawmaker, Awolowo prioritised building of schools, providing teachers and building personnel that would eventually bring the desired economic development.
He added that the idea worked for a very long time in the Western region until the military took over and introduced the Unitary system of government.
“I intend to take human development as far as i can, as Chief Awolowo did during their time.
“His priority is not building skyscraper, but building schools and personnel that will bring growth to the Western region.
“The sure part of greatness was no secret other than Awolowo invested in the people,” he said.
In his remarks, Alhaji Olayinka Kamoru, Chaiman, youth centre, Ita-Elewa expressed gratitude to the lawmaker for providing the facility to the centre adding that it would reduce loitering around as well reduce crime rate to the bearest minimal.
Kamoru, who doubles as Itundofin Community Development Association(CDA) chaiman appealed to the lawmaker to organised empowerment programme to women, widow and vulnerable on quarterly basis to alleviate their sufferings.
