Matilda Omonaiye/
The Board of the Lagos State Archery Association on Saturday held the inauguration of 25 clubs and investiture of new patrons.
The clubs included 16 new ones, four existing clubs and five schools clubs.
Chaired by the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Bode Ojajuni, the event held at the Sports Bar of the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, also unveiled programmes that could make archery more popular in Lagos, at the grassroots, and the education sector.
According to Ojajuni, there are plans to promote Archery in the state by making it part of the schools’ curriculum.
“It is a milestone what we achieved today because it is the first time that the archery association is being launched in the country since its inception. We have a four-year plan for the youths because they are the nucleus of sports, you don’t do sports at old age and that’s why we have majority of them here,” he said.
Speaking on the theme “Archery: Connecting the Triangle of Sports Development, Youth Development and Sports Tourism” Ojajuni said that the inauguration of the Board on December 5, 2018 set the pace for the development and promotion of the Olympic Sport in Lagos.
The inaugurated clubs are Apapa Executive 1 & 2, Apapa Progressives Archery Club, Ikorodu 1 & 2, CNI. Magazine Archery Club, Badagry Archery Club, Ojo Archery Club, FESTAC Archery Club, FESTAC Executive Archery Club, UNILAG Archery Club, Surulere Archery Club, Cardoso Archery Club, MBA Archery Club, Orege Archery Club and Olodi Apapa Archery Club.
The inaugurated existing clubs included Lekki Archery Club, Zone 2 Police Archery Club, Fort Madariola Archery Club and Safari Hunters Archery Club.
The five schools archery clubs inaugurated included West Mills College Archery Club, Padema Schools Archery Club, Pinefield Schools Archery Club, Yeolan Schools Archery Clubs and Enfield College Archery Club.
Personalities honored as Patrons of the association included Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Lagos, Alhaji Tunde Balogun; House of Representative member, Hon. Egberongbe Mufutau, representing Apapa Federal Constituency; Hon. Ademorin Kuye, representing Somolu Federal Constituency; business mogul, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, Chairman Sifax Group of Companies; a broadcaster Mrs. Funke Oga; Hon. Hazeez Babajide Akintoye, Dr. Amy Jadesimi, Mr. Wole Madariola, Chief Igho Dafinone and Sir Henry Muogho.
“These are distinguished and carefully selected patrons, awardees who are seasoned professionals and accomplished business men and women, politicians and captains of industry who have been selected on merit to come and contribute their quota in developing this sport in our dear state,” Ojajuni said.
President of Nigeria Archery Federation, the national body of the sport in the country, Mohammed Baba Abdullahi, who spoke through the media officer of the federation, Mr. Patrick Ibeh, lauded the Lagos State Archery Association for being the pacesetter of the development and popularization of the sport in the country.
He said, “History of archery sport in Nigeria will not be completed without the mention of Lagos where it all began from the cradle; little wonder as Lagos State has achieved this milestone of fast development. This occasion gladdens our heart as a family and it is a challenge for other states that are already practicing the sport as a discipline.
“Archery has state chapters in FCT Abuja, Niger, Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Ogun, Oyo, Imo, Zamfara, Kwara and Nasarawa States, apart from institutional establishment associations and clubs such as the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Police and Civil Defense) Fire Brigade, Immigration, Prisons and Road Safety.”
He commended the Lagos State Sports Commission under its chairman, Dr. Kweku Tandoh, who made it possible to give archery sport the well-deserved status and attention.
Prof. Tunde Makanju delivered the inaugural lecture and the association had a presentation of the Lagos State Archery Association’s Strategic Plan 2019-2023.
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