The Ondo State Government has announced plans to organise a state-wide U-17 football tournament as part of its renewed efforts to develop sports at the grassroots level.
The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Henry Omoyofunmi, disclosed this during an unscheduled visit to the leadership of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ondo State Chapter, on Thursday in Akure.
Omoyofunmi explained that the U-17 tournament is part of a broader strategy to strengthen football development across the state while ensuring that other sporting disciplines also receive attention.
“We are taking sports to the grassroots so that we will have enough players and athletes to replace the ageing ones. Approval has been given for an U-18 football tournament to hold across all 18 local government areas, moving to the zonal level before the finals at the centre,” he said.
He further assured that gold medalists from Ondo State at the last National Youth Games would receive government support to advance their secondary education, as part of plans to encourage young talents.
The commissioner praised sports journalists in the state, describing them as professionals and vital partners in the development of the sector.
In his remarks, Chairman of Ondo SWAN, Segun Giwa, pledged the association’s full support for the commissioner and urged him to run an open-door policy that would foster collaboration between his ministry and sports writers.
