Deji Tinubu

Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission, LSSC, Mr. Deji Tinubu has rolled out the achievements of his office since the incumbent Governor of the state; Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode assumed power last May.

Tinubu, who is also the Special Adviser on Sports to Governor Ambode recalled that since the Sports Commission was created on 17 June, 2015 via an Executive order of the Governor by merging the sports functions of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development, Lagos Sports has been repositioned for a brighter and more rewarding future.

According to the former board member of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, the Sports Commission has been able to “negotiate with several sports bodies and interests that would support the development of our human capacity, facilities, competition hosting and sports administration as well as management.”

According to him, “Lagos State has secured hosting rights for the 2016 edition of the Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations in December this year; a bid the LSSC initiated in tandem with Kinetic Sports, Copa Lagos organisers.

“The competition also serves as official qualifiers for the 2017 FOFA Beach Soccer World Cup, a process His Excellency was involved in from initiation to conclusion.

“We have also been confirmed as Host City for the 2018 African Athletics Championship and are in talks for an international Basketball event.”

He disclosed that the visit of FC Barcelona to Lagos is yielding fruits with the decision of the Spanish club to set up the First FCB Escola Academy, adding that the Badminton and Squash Classics as well as the annual Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship, which were inherited from the previous administration in the state, have continued to grow bigger.

“In addition, the first ever Lagos Cycling Tour is being planned to take place this year, even as we are about to kick-start our major grassroots programme where sports hubs will be created and set up in our divisions in schools and spaces within communities and localities. Children will have access to ‘after school’ sports activities at entry and developmental levels in secured, organized, controlled environs.

“In recognition of the need to strengthen private sector participation in Lagos State sports, a marketing department was created to focus attention on establishing support. With immediate compliance with the Governor’s demand for increased revenue generation, we have constituted a team to partner marketing to creatively initiate new revenue generation possibilities.

“The LSSC Website is ready and marketing materials are being practically ready for distribution. We have also initiated the process that would result in ATM kiosks installed in all our major sport facilities,” he said.

Tinubu said that when he resumed office, he set up seven directorates in line with the vision of setting up the Sports Commission; the directorates include Sports Development Institutional /School Sports, Sports Facilities Management, Sports Medicine, Technical, Accounts and Administration and Human Resources.