By Kehinde Osagiede
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state has said that the spread of sports infrastructure in the state will best be appreciated when Edo youths fully embrace sporting activities and pursue careers therein.

The Governor made the assertion in an interview with Journalists after declaring the Nigeria Football Federation (NNF) Annual General Assembly open in Benin. He urged the youths of the state to take advantage of the sporting facilities being upgraded in the state ahead 2020 National Sports Festival,to further develop themselves.

Governor Obaseki said that his administration is investing in sport infrastructure development primarily to speed up youth development by way of provision of job opportunities as well as physical and health wellness to the people, noting that the youths of the state are the major targeted beneficiaries if the administration’s sports programme.

“You can see the work we have done at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium with other facilities around schools across the state ahead the 2020 National Sports to staged in Edo. Next year will be busy with a lot of sports activities in Edo. We expect women world cup,FIFA world cup qualifying matches and the National Sports Festival. “

“We are doing all of these to encourage our youths and to work towards regaining our glory.
So, we are hopeful that if we continue in the pace we have started, I am sure in a space of three to five years, our youth would not have reasons to travel abroad for survival.
Like the NFF president earlier said, Edo is home to sports and we want to do all we can to bring back our glory. “

On Edo youths search for greener pastures abroad, the Governor said that that would soon be a matter of choice and not conditions for Edo youths.
“If we continue to build and inculcate in our children from the very young age, the belief and notion that home is great and that one can find everything around home, that lure and need to travel abroad for greener pastures will greatly diminish.” Governor Obaseki emphasized.