11The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun Federal Constituency, Dr Rafiu Ajakaye, has pledged to drive grassroots sports development through structured talent-hunting programmes and support for emerging athletes across the three local government areas.

Ajakaye stated that the initiative, if he is elected to the House of Representatives, will entail partnership with the Kwara State Sports Commission alongside local sports organizers to discover and nurture talent in football, athletics, table tennis, swimming, and other sporting events.

The former Chief Press Secretary to Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq made this known while appearing on Kwara SWAN Sports Hard Talk at the Taiwo Awoniyi Sports Media Centre, located within the George Innih Stadium Complex, Ilorin, on Monday.

He noted that the constituency is endowed with youths possessing athletic potential who require enhanced access to infrastructure, organized tournaments, and institutional backing to hone their skills.

According to him, talent discovery efforts must expand past football into other sporting events where young athletes can be identified and trained for national and international competitions.

Ajakaye also pledged to partner with the Kwara State Government to optimize the utilization of sports infrastructure within the constituency, highlighting the rehabilitated Offa Stadium as a major catalyst for local sports growth.

"I am proud that His Excellency is doing fantastically in my own constituency, and that is the renovation of the Offa Stadium for the first time in many years. I am seeing that as an asset already," he stated.

The APC flagbearer committed to supporting local government administrations to ensure their effective participation in state sports festivals, noting that financial constraints frequently hamper their competitive capacity.

He highlighted grassroots sports organizers as crucial partners in the proposed strategy due to their firsthand understanding of local talent and the obstacles confronting young athletes.

"These are guys who are basically the grassroots. They know where the challenges are," he added, emphasizing the necessity of involving local stakeholders to devise practical solutions.

Ajakaye remarked that a coordinated approach to community-level sports would broaden prospects for young people, foster grassroots development, and produce elite athletes capable of excelling at higher levels.

The implementation of his proposed sports development programme will rely on close synergy with relevant sports administrative bodies and local stakeholders across the Ifelodun, Offa, and Oyun Federal Constituency.