By NAN Abiola Lawal, the Vice-Chairman, Lagos State Traditional Sports Council, has solicited the support of government and corporate organisations in current efforts aimed at reviving traditional sports.
Lawal told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos that the revival of traditional sports would make it attractive.
“It will also challenge idle and restive youths to seek career paths in the sports,’’ she said.
NAN reports that traditional sports have sports such as Kokowa (wrestling), Dambe (kick-boxing), Abula (tennis) and Ayo.
“Traditional sports are one of the best games in the world, as it involves our African culture.
“It’s time our governments and corporate bodies give more consideration to traditional sports, in order to improve the lives of our teeming youths by catching them young,” Lawal said.
She said traditional sports should be adequately and progressively managed to ensure meaningful goals.
Lawal said traditional sports were being introduced to various secondary schools across the state, while competitions would be organised to catch talents when they are young.
“We just introduced traditional sports to many secondary schools and we are planning to host competitions that will be targeted towards building young talents,” she said.
The official also called for adequate support from the general public through funding, to help in increasing the number of athletes who would want to build their career in the game.
She urged the media to contribute through adequate publicity so as to assist in promoting traditional sports to international standards like other international games which featured in the Olympics.
