The Ekiti government has assured of its commitment to sports development and identifying and nurturing state athletes to become national and international champions.

The technical adviser to the governor on sports development, Olusola Osetoba, gave assurance during a roundtable meeting with the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) members in Ekiti State.

Ms Osetoba said Governor Biodun Oyebanji, since the assumption of office two years ago, had achieved much in sports, including the upgrade of the Sports Council to a Commission.

Other achievements listed included the introduction of payment of stipends to athletes and the employment of coaches and technical officials.

The adviser said some of the measures the government took were to prevent poaching of its athletes by other states.

She further said the government had restructured the two state-owned football clubs and employed a new technical crew for both clubs.

” In his two years in office, he has revived various sports and empowered the state athletes to become formidable and outstanding in their various specialized sports.

“Hostel accommodation with good furniture has been provided for Ekiti Queens FC to boost their work rate in training and performance in the league.

“To crown it all, Oyebanji has just laid the foundation for the construction of 900 seat Indoor sports hall of International standard, which will accommodate no fewer than 16 sports,” she said.

Ms Osetoba urged youths, sports writers and indigenes of Ekiti to support the various sporting agendas of the Oyebanji-led administration.

(NAN)