GOV MIMIKO PRAISES OLA MAFO AT BOOKS’ LAUNCH

Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has showered praises on two –time Commissioner in the State and former Chairman of the NFF Electoral Appeals Committee, Prince John Ola Mafo, at the launching of two books written by the latter in Akure on Thursday. Mafo is also the new Chairman of the Ondo State Football Agency.

Drawing inspiration from famous author, Francis Bacon’s assertion that “reading maketh a full man; conferences maketh a ready man and; writing maketh an exact man,” Mimiko insisted that Mafo’s accomplishment of two, not one, books at the same time, fully established his place in the pantheon of exact men.

“I want to say here without any fear or favour that the Mafo family has long been one renowned for its integrity and capacity in Ondo State. Prince Ola Mafo is an institution, and everyone within the political landscape of Ondo knows that it is always better to have him on your side. With these books, he has further established his undoubted cerebral capacity and love for social equality and development of man.”

Mafo’s first book, Echoes of The Waves, mirrors the challenges that confront an average Nigerian child from the rural area, especially an aquatic terrain, and how he can make it through the odds stacked against him/her. The second, Wazobian Revolution, is set against a society where amidst great potential, the under-privileged is in a great dilemma, occasioned by the double standards on display in his country, limiting his options and by extension his progress.

The occasion was an assemblage of Who Is Who in Ondo State, with Mimiko and cabinet members Eyitayo Jegede (Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice), Sola Ebiseni (Commissioner for Environment), Jide Adejuyigbe (Commissioner for Education), Gboye Adegbenro (Commissioner for Works), Yele Ogundipe (Commissioner for Finance), Dayo Awude (Commissioner for Youth & Sports) and Dayo Adeyanju (Commissioner for Health).

Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State

There were also Hon. Victor Akinjo Kolade (Member, House of Representatives), Toyin Akinkuotu (Head of Service), Kola Ademujimi (Chief of Staff to Governor), assemblymen Dayo Akinsoyinu and Kemi Adesanya, Prince Dapo Ajibade and chairmen of parastatals.

The Nigeria Football Federation was represented by Ademola Olajire (Assistant Director, Communications) and Olusola Ogunnowo (Executive Secretary, Nigeria Nation-Wide League One).

Ondo is not pulling out of DAWN Games, says Famakinwa

Contrary to report that Ondo State has pulled out of the maiden Secondary School Sports Games tagged DAWN Games, the Director General of DAWN Commission, Dipo Famakinwa has refuted this report, saying, Ondo will be part of the competition holding in Lagos.

“DAWN Commission, the Regional agency managing the Southwest integration agenda, would like to state that the Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko was duly notified, along with his brother Governors, of the design, the processes and planning of the DAWN Games 2014,” he said.

He added: “And of course, Ondo State has been duly represented at all the preliminary meetings leading to the hosting of the Games. Indeed, at the initial Stakeholders’ Meeting comprising the six (6) States where the Rules and Regulations and Timelines for the DAWN Games 2014 were agreed upon, Ondo State was represented at that meeting by the Director in charge of Sports in the State Ministry of Education.

“Also at the Joint Technical Meeting of all the Stakeholders, and Inspection of facilities for the Games which took place in Lagos on April 23 – 25, 2014, Ondo State was fully represented at the meeting by Mr. Jide Fawolu, the Director, School Sports, Ondo State. In fact at that meeting, the State representative submitted the duly completed DAWN Games 2014 Preliminary Entry Forms to the Technical Sub-committee, which was a confirmation of the State’s participation at the DAWN Games,” Famakinwa said.

He continued, “It must also be stated that the National Sports Commission (NSC) has been a major stakeholder in the planning of the Games. In fact, Dr. Steve Olarinoye and Mr. Peter Nelson have represented the NSC South West Zone as members of the Central Working Committee and Local Organising Committee of the Games.”

He said that games for Secondary Schools in the Southwest is designed as an annual event to be hosted on a rotational basis among all the six States in the Region.

“The Games forms part of the holistic roadmap for the economic and social integration of the Southwest Region of Nigeria, especially with regards to the discovery of new sporting talents, creation of opportunities for personal development, culture promotion, employment generation, crime reduction, and to further engender brotherly relations among the constituent States, as well as reinforcing the unique affinities of the people of the Region,” he said.

The DG added: “It is part of the overall strategy for leveraging and optimizing the favourable demographic swing within the Region on a sustainable basis. The Games have nothing to do with politics. In fact the Commission has no such mandate in the pursuit of all its actions.

ITTF World Tour: Ondo T/Tennis players canvass for Govt sponsorship

Players of Ondo State Table Tennis Association yesterday in Akure called on the state government to come to their aids by sponsoring them to the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World championships.

It was recalled that the state Teams; senior and junior were invited to represent Nigeria in the world tour following their excellent performance at the NTTF Pilot League and Toyin Okenla National Secondary School championships held respectively in Lagos.

In a separate interview with newsmen, the players thanked the state Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko for his timely love and support for Table Tennis begging for his quick intervention in order to participate in the career boosting championships.

“It is not common to invite a state to represent it’s country in an international championship and this shows that we have records. We want to thank the government for the encouragement, the World Tour will boost our rankings as players and a state”, Ojo Onaolapo said.

“Attending the championship will improve and expose the standard of the grassroots programme of the Dr. Mimiko led government. We need to improve on our knowledge and skills”, Akinyinka Kehinde added.

According to the invitation letter, the Sunshine senior team is expected to represent Nigeria in the GAC Group ITTF World Tour, China Open Chengdu Super Series between June 4 and 8 while their junior counterparts will do same at the Funchal Junior & Cadet Open ITTF Circuit in Portugal between September 3 and 6.

However, The Teams head coach, Adedotun Omoniyi urged the state government to sponsor the teams which he said will help in preparing the players for the forth coming National Sports Festival slated for Calabar.

“Table Tennis remains the states’ number one area of advantage in a competition so there is need to expose players to modern techniques”.

“The penalty for non show policy, there be a charge of £150 per player and coach and cancellation amounts will be added to the association’s invoice to be paid together with the hospitality costs to the organisers either by bank transfer or by cash on site.

Also the association will not be allowed to enter future World Tour events if any cancellation fees remain outstanding”, ITTF Competition Manager, Karl Jindrak said.

The senior players include; Ojo Onaolapo, Boboye Oyeniyan, Fagbamila Akinwale and Akeem Lasisi while Oladiran Joshua, Akomolafe Sunday, Amadi Umah and Akinyinka Kehinde form the junior team.