Head of Ekiti State Sports Council recalled in response to the poor kitting of their athletes

GOVERNOR Biodun Oyebanji has recalled Adekunle Adeyemi the chairman of the Ekiti State Sports Council to come back and answer questions as to why their athletes at the ongoing National Youth Games were kitted so poorly.

Nigeria's seventh National Youth Games is currently taking place in Asaba, the Delta State capital, with participants from each of the country's 36 states. At the opening ceremony which took place at the Keshi Stadium in Asaba on Saturday, the Ekiti State contingent appeared very shabbily dressed during the march past, embarrassing the governor.

While athletes from all other states were kitted out in track suits and trainers during the march past, the Ekiti contingent wore cheap T-shirts and slippers. With these embarrassing images going viral, Governor Oyebanji has summoned Mr Adeyemi back to Ado-Ekiti to come and explain what went wrong.

Mr Adeyemi has been directed to hand over to the next most senior official of the state at the games and return home immediately. Taiwo Olatunbosun, the Ekiti State information commissioner, described the development as unfortunate but added that the Ekiti State government would take full responsibility for the regrettable incident.

Mr Olatunbosun, however maintained that the state government made adequate provision for the team’s participation at the games. He restated the commitment of the Oyebanji administration to providing platforms for Ekiti youths to exhibit their God-given talents in line with its youth development and job creation agenda.

Meanwhile, Florence Olarinoye of Lagos State yesterday won all three gold medals  in the 49kg class of the female weightlifting event at the games. Aged just 13, the younger sister to Adenike Adijat Olarinoye, the Africa and Commonwealth Champion, Florence showed class and vision as she out-lifted her opponents.