Idowu unveiled as NSSF patron, promises better days for Federation
By Ifeanyi Eduzor
Nigeria School Sports Federation has unveiled experienced sports administrator and football proprietor, Yemi Idowu as it’s patron.
In an impressive ceremony organised Tuesday, July, 5 at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium Surulere Lagos at the ongoing 23rd edition of National Milo School Basketball Championship, the Federation announced that it took the decision because of his track records in grassroots sports development, noting that it is hoped that his new position will impact positively in the development of school sports in the country.
Speaking at the investiture, President of Nigeria School Sports Federation Mrs. Bisi Joseph described the new patron as a grassroots sports mobilizer whose track records in championing the combination of sports and education cannot be quantified declaring that his investiture is an honour well deserved.
” Yemi Idowu is not new in grassroots sports development. We’ve seen him support the growth and development of grassroots sports over the years and we also worked together at the National Academicals Sports Committee, so he’s not a new face in sports development and he’s the perfect gentle man that deserves to be our patron
” You’ll also remember that he got us the first sponsorship for the National School Sports Festival and we want that to happen again. Our plan is to discover future Olympians and ensure we give an average child the opportunity to participate in sports while in school because the benefits of sports is so enormous and we don’t want any child to miss out and this is something we cannot do alone and that contributed to our making him our patron
” Our new patron is among the few Nigerians that are interested in the growth of an average child both in sports education and health. Look at how he renovated the Maracana Stadium which is a grassroots centre that will serve as a future for football growth and we want our students to benefit from the facility and as our patron, we can have access to the facility.
Joseph further explained that decorating Idowu as their patron is a
delight to Nigeria School Sports Federation and with his new position, they expect him to be at the forefront of school sports advocacy in the country.
In his acceptance speech, the new patron thanked the Federation for finding him worthy for the role noting that he will embark on a short, medium and long term strategy to move the Federation forward.
” The best thing we need to do is to harmonize the school sports calender to allign it with Xmas, Easter and Summer holidays and then publicize the calender so that everybody will know when events are going to take place to avoid clashes.
“We shall also ensure that preparations for events are done simultaneously and see how we can share facilities together. So, instead of one or two schools doing their events alone, we can bring ten schools together and this can be done regularly and also involve private and public schools to start cooperating”, he stressed.
He further stated that one of his main target is to have a media plan which will now form the foundation to start raising sponsorship for their various activities.
Idowu who is the proprietor of Nath FC of Lagos announced that very soon he will organise a grassroots football tournament at the Maracana Stadium which will involve schools from different parts of Lagos State.
