The Kwara Deputy Gov., Mr Peter Kishira, has called on corporate organisations and public-spirited individuals to partner with government to enhance sports development in the state.

The deputy governor made the call on Wednesday in Ilorin at the opening of the maiden Kwara All Secondary Schools Athletics Championships, sponsored by Mr Tunde Abdulkareem, the Chairman, Kwara Athletics Association.

Kishira, represented by Saka Onimago, Kwara Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, said that the present administration in the state placed a high premium on sports as a tool for development.

“The Kwara government is undergoing reform in all facets and sports cannot be an exception. There is no gainsaying that this administration places a high premium on sports as a tool for development, prosperity and nation building. This informs this administration desire to return sports back to the grassroots and its old glory.

“It will, however, be noted that Kwara has produced prominent sportsmen and women especially athletes, who made their marks in the past nationally and internationally,” he said.

Kishira who commended the sponsor, said that the state government would leave no stone unturned in its programme of identifying sporting talents from the grassroots. He urged other philanthropists and well meaning organisations to partner with the state not only in sporting activities, but also in other areas of socio-economic development.

The deputy governor also charged the participating students to be disciplined and compete with the spirit of sportsmanship.

Earlier, Hajia Rahmat Adeshina-Abaya, the state Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, said the state’s focus on sports development was based on the principle of the “Community Sports Development Strategy’’.

Adeshina-Abaya said this was to ensure adequate provision of standard sports facilities from the grassroots. She added that government would also invest in the discovery of talented youth, who would later be nurtured to stardom. The sponsor, Abdulkareem, said the sponsorship was borne out of the desire to make Kwara wealthy through athletics.

“Kwara is not in the Niger Delta, but we want to make history by making Kwara oil wealth through athletics. In the years to come, we will produce boys and girls that will make Nigeria proud. They will become world beaters, and would to represent Kwara, Nigeria and Africa,” he said.

Abdulkareem also announced cash prizes of N600, 000 to various medal winners at the championships.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that over 37 schools are competing at the 4-day meet.