Lagos moves to enhance sports, inaugurates boxing gymnasium
As part of efforts to strengthen boxing sport, he Lagos State Government, in collaboration with Yucateco Boxing Promotions, has inaugurated the Babajide Sanwo-Olu Boxing Gymnasium at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.
Speaking at the event, the Director-General, Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Lekan Fatodu, said there is no better way to address youth empowerment and engagement than creating an alternative opportunity for them to channel their energy as sports have become a tool to empower youth towards self-realization.
“Boxing in our community is a unique sport because we have a vibrant youth population represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Honorable Mobolaji Ogunlende. With this facility, we can produce champions”, he said.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, said the state can not capture all the youths at the same time. But our ability to capture them in groups makes it easier for us to be able to get them off the street. For the growth of youths who have found their interest in boxing. This is a well-set-up structure for them to be able to burn out the energy, practice and prepare themselves to compete on a global scale.
“As a government, we cannot do it alone, which is why we continue to call for partnerships, and one of those partnerships has produced this. We plan to be able to replicate this across the five divisions in the state. If we can do this, then we will be able to get those groups of youths under this catchment off the street into the boxing arena, channelling their energy, sportsmanship and abilities to compete on the global scale,” he added.
Fatodu commended the donor and Chief Executive Officer, Yucateco Boxing Promotions, Imadu Omonlei Yakubu, for the notable initiative, which provides another opportunity for the young boxers in the state to continue to dominate and sharpen their skills in the sporting industry.
