Education

Sport: Agunbiade tasks youth, at Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi’s Mini Marathon

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3 years ago

October 5, 2021

Olu Emmanuel

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Major streets of Ikorodu area of Lagos was thronged by talented youths on Friday, October 1, 2021, when over 300 participants took part in the 7th edition of Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi Mini Marathon.

The event bankrolled by Hon. Sanai Oyeniran Bolanle Agunbiade aka S.OB, representing Ikorodu Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly was a star studded one as youngsters put up their best in sporting activities to the admiration stakeholders.

Agunbiade the Opomulero of Ikorodu Kingdom and also the Majority Leader of the Assembly, a sport enthusiast who has a firm belief in positive possibilities inherent in sports for the youths was in his element all through the programme.

The race which covered a distance of 10km, started from the Palace of the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, and ended at the Police Barracks Igbogbo.

It was a healthy competitive race that earns the young participants a tremendous applauds from Monarchs and other notable dignitaries in attendance.

Ayinde Lukman Olawunmi of Ikorodu Senior Grammar School won the 1st position of the 10km race in 44 minutes, 43 seconds in the male category, while Sarumi Rasak of Luwasa Senior High School and Ozurumba Promise of Elepe Community Junior School clinched the 2nd and 3rd positions in 44 minutes, 54 seconds and 45 minutes 25 seconds respectively.

In the female category, Odufolakun Rebecca Oluwatobi of Luwasa Senior High School clinched the 1st position in 49 minutes 34 seconds, while Basiru Awawu of United Senior High School and Akanbi Muslimot of Luwasa Senior High School, came 2nd and 3rd in 51 minutes 34 seconds and 53 minutes 59 seconds respectively.

The 4th to 25th positions of both male and female categories were equally given consolation prizes with additional cash gift each.

Hon. Agunbiade later thanked the Royal Heads and other prominent personalities in attendance, and applauded the organizers, security agencies and medical team for a job well done.

“The essence of this programme is to commemorate Nigerian Independence Day, particularly in Ikorodu Division. It is aimed at discovering talents among our youth and create healthy sporting rivalry among the schools in Ikorodu Division, both in the private and public.

It is equally meant to celebrate the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, HRM Oba (Engr.) Kabir Adewale Shotobi,” Agunbiade said.

The lawmaker further stated that some students were being celebrated at the event because they don’t indulge in drugs and they are not into cultism. “We want them to leave peacefully and as clean as possible so that they can be focused and achieve their goals in life and continue to be celebrated by the people,” the lawmaker added.

The Chairman of the planning committee and Principal, Oriwu Senior Model College Ikorodu, Mr. Akeem Bello, earlier in his address, applauded Hon. SOB Agunbiade and also appreciated the participants of the Oba Shotobi Mini Marathon race, saying the event was created to domicile independence Day celebration in Ikorodu Division.

“After the screening, 173 female students were cleared by the Medical department of Lagos State Sports Commission and 363 male students were qualified to run this mini marathon. We have some of our past winners who are now professional marathoners through the Oba Shotobi mini-marathon athletic.

“We also want to seize this medium to appreciate all our divisional Kings, Baales and other notable personalities, for showing tremendous assistance for this year’s edition.

“Likewise, we appreciate the only Tertiary Institution in Ikorodu Division, Caleb University for always supporting us at all time,” Bello said.

He further stated that the person that comes first in Oba Shotobi Mini-marathon would be given a cheque of N50,000 (fifty thousand naira), while the person that comes second would get N30,000 (thirty thousands naira) cheque, and the person that comes third would get N20,000 (twenty thousand naira cheque), while those who clinch fourth to tenth position will collect a cheque of N10,000 (ten thousand naira) each, and those in eleventh to fifteenth position would be gifted with school bags.

Speaking at the event, the Director General of Lagos State Sports Commission, Prince Oluwatoyin Gafar Bolowotan, applauded the organizers and the consistency of Hon. SOB Agunbiade, saying that Oba Shotobi Mini Marathon has come to stay in Lagos State.

“Let me say it clear here today that we are very lucky to have Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu at this period.

“Looking at what he has been doing in the last fifteen months about sports in Lagos State, we have never had such records.

“The Governor has approved that by next month, we are going to do Lagos State Sports invention in education, where we have a collaboration between the Sports Commission and Lagos State Ministry of Education.

“This is how the Lagos State government intends to engage our youths to change our orientation and narrative and to have a better society.

“He has equally approved the commencement of Infrastructural development around the state. The building and construction of Igbogbo Sports Stadium which has 1,800 seaters is presently undergoing now.

“We also have them across the state just to have development in totality,” Bolowotan stated.

He added that the state has embarked on the development of 11 new stadia, noting that by May 2022, they would be completed and ready for use, while Igbogbo Sports Stadium would be ready by December 2021.

He added that it would be the biggest among the stadia the state is having now.

“With the demonstration of the talents displayed today, with the authority of Mr Governor, those who come first to third in both categories will go with us to Ilorin, Kwara State for National Youths Games for under-15 students,” Bolowotan added.

The Tutor General and Permanent Secretary of Education District II, Mrs. Anike Adekanye, in her short address, praised and commended Hon S.O.B Agunbiade for a job well done, pleading with the athletes not to lose focus and study hard.

“According to the Theme Agenda of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwoolu, it shows that each child has the potential of being good.

“We come in as an educationalist so as to identify the area where each child can be of good use to himself/herself because no one is useless.

“The Lagos State Governor is working hard in promoting education and technology in Lagos State.

“So, I enjoin you all never to go into any vice or indulge in hard drugs, but continue to embrace good virtues in the society, be children of pride to the family you are representing and in the community you live,” Adekanye advised.

In the same vein, His Royal Majesties, Oba (Barr.) AbdulSemiu Orimadegun Kasali, Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Oba Kayode Raji, Eweye of Isiwu, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya and IKODASS Chairman, Mr Rotimi Erogbogbo, lauded the achievements recorded in Oba Shotobi Mini Marathon so far, and applauded Hon. SOB Agunbiade for the uncommon initiative.

Also, in his royal remarks, His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi, thanked Hon. S.O.B Agunbiade, and labeled him the best Majority Leader in the whole of South West of Nigeria.

He also commended the participants, while urging and encouraging them not to lose focus on their education.

“Today’s Mini Marathon reminds me of how we used to do in the 60s, when we were very much younger.

“I’m so happy that the population of participants increases every year. We are encouraging you because we’ve had some of you who won the Lagos State scholarship in the past editions and are now in Texas, USA through this process.

“So, don’t feel depressed that you did not emerge as winner this time around, God’s time is the best and make sure you take your academic pursuit very serious,” Oba Shotobi advised the athletes.

The event was also witnessed by a former Minister of Works and Infrastructure, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, members of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr. Abiodun Fatai-Abatan and Alhaji Adefowoba, Chairman Ikorodu West LCDA, Hon. Kazeem Sulaimon, Leader of Onward Movement, Comrade Kehinde Okeowo and Alhaji Akeem Olukunga.

Others are the Agbaakin of Ikorodu kingdom, Otunba Sir Ayodele Elesho, Vice Chairmen of Ikorodu LG and Ikorodu North LCDA respectively, Hon. Princess Folashade Olabanji-Oba and Hon. Ameen Apanisele, Chairman of Ikorodu branch of NUT, Mr Fakolade Oluwafemi, Comrade Bashexy, Baales in Council, SOB Team, DPO of Igbogbo Police Station, other security personnel, among others.