By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin – Prof. Olawole Obiyemi, the Director of Sports of the University of Ilorin, says the institution sacrificed N50 million to allow the National Youth Games (NYG) take place on its campus.
Obiyemi disclosed this while commenting on the level of preparation of the institution for the games in an interview with newsmen on Monday in Ilorin.
He said management was not worried about the sum because of the premium it attached to talent development through hosting of the second edition of the games.
Obiyemi explained that the amount would have been generated from accommodation rates charged students who attend its sandwich programmes at the institution.
He explained that the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali, was a sports lover and a believer in the development of the youth.
“The Vice Chancellor has always emphasised that what the country needs most at this time is the development of its youths as a precursor to a brighter future.
“We would have generated about N50million from sandwich students who pay N15, 000 each for accommodation.
“But because we want the National Youth Games to get the best, we asked them to seek accommodation elsewhere.
“The importance of the National Youth Games is our priority as we are now making our accommodation available to over 4,000 athletes and officials free of charge,” Obiyemi said.
He said that the vice chancellor had since the beginning of the year commenced preparations towards its success.
These, he said, would involve series of meetings and signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.
“The vice chancellor is a sports loving man. In February, he delegated four professors to attend a meeting of the National Council of Sports in Tinapa,” he added.
On the preparations of the institution to host the games, he said everything had been put in place to ensure a successful and memorable second edition.
(Edited by Emmanuel Nwoye and controlled by Mufutau Ojo)