Press Releases

Fashola Enjoins Youths To Engage In Productive Skills

Dec 26, 2009 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), at the weekend advised youths in the country to engage their energies in productive skills saying commitment to such skills in sports could earn them the respect of their peers as role models.

Governor Fashola, who spoke at the Indoor Sports Hall, Rowe Park, Yaba venue of the fifth Monthly Saturday Boxing Show (Governor’s Edition), said youths have a responsibility to contribute meaningfully to the development of the country through deploying their energies creatively for the betterment of the society.

He told them, “You do not need a knife or a gun; you do not need to use drugs to be a leader among your colleagues. By doing something honourable like boxing, you can be an inspiration to so many of them”.

The Governor, who described Boxing as a noble art, declared, “I believe that from the Old Eagle Belt Championship that used to hold on the 27th December annually many years back, emerged the likes of Nojeem Maiyegun, Obisia Nwakpa and so many great boxers and Olympic Champions”, adding that the commencement of the Lagos State Boxing Hall of Fame and the Governor’s Belt heralds a new dawn for the art.

“I believe very strongly that many of the young men and ladies we have seen today will be the representatives of this country in the next Olympics, challenging for honours”, Governor Fashola said adding that all the youths need is the support of everyone to enable them utilize their youthful energies for productive purposes.

Governor Fashola commended the Chairman of the Lagos State Boxing Hall of Fame, Mr. Wale Edun, for his commitment to the Sport and for ensuring that the Monthly Saturday Boxing Show is held regularly.

“Mr. Edun has shown that service is not about office but by having an open heart and the willingness to give back to the Society. As you all know, Edun is not presently a serving member of the Lagos State Government but he has gone out of his way to demonstrate his commitment to serve this Government and his people and he has truly accomplished what I use to say that you don’t need a title to serve”, the Governor said.

Also commending the sponsors of the programme which was having its 5th edition on Boxing Day, Governor Fashola expressed happiness that it has created opportunity for young people to use their energies for productive purposes especially in a year that the State Government has pledged commitment to youth development.

“I think this is a fitting end of the twelfth month calendar, a year when you see young men show their skills in a very noble art, the art of boxing. They have demonstrated to us that size does not matter. We have seen smaller boxers win; they have demonstrated that there is talent, there is skill and there is art”, he said.

Thanking all the participants, including the judges, the time keepers, the referees and others for sparing their time to participate, the Governor called on the boxers to use their skill and art to protect people, to inspire others to become greater than them adding, “This is what I expect to see”.

He further charged them, “You should also remember that being a hero carries many responsibilities. You cannot fight in the streets because you are not street fighters; you cannot use the art and the skill to oppress people who do not have those skills”.

Urging other well meaning Lagosians to emulate Mr. Edun by taking up the sponsorship of monthly championships of other sports like tennis, athletics soccer and others, Governor Fashola pledged that whenever and wherever such well organized championships are held, “I assure you as best as I can that our government will be there to lend a strong hand of support”.

The Governor later presented prizes to winners in the different categories of the sport. The Governor’s Eagle Belt for the Champion of Champions went to Rasheed Lawal while the first and second runners up, Rilwan Olodosu and Nike Salami respectively also received prizes.

The occasion which drew a huge audience including the youths also had in attendance, the State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development Prince Ademola Adeniji-Adele, Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Council, Mr. Agboola Dabiri and other top Government functionaries and sports lovers.