Ilaboya Unveils Plans To Revive Grassroots Sports In Edo State
Newly appointed special adviser promises year-round sporting activities, talent discovery and training programmes across the state.
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo’s newly appointed Special Adviser on Grassroots Sports Mobilisation, Frank Ilaboya, has unveiled plans to revitalise grassroots sports through a comprehensive programme aimed at discovering talents and engaging young people across the state.
Ilaboya, a former Executive Director of the Edo State Sports Commission and former Chairman of the Edo State Football Association, said his office was developing a policy framework to ensure sustained sporting activities in communities throughout Edo State.
Speaking during an appearance on Edo Broadcasting Service’s evening news bulletin, Ilaboya described the creation of his office as a significant step towards strengthening grassroots sports development.
“First and foremost, I want to thank His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for creating the office of Special Adviser on Grassroots Sports Mobilisation,” he said.
“This singular gesture, the first of its kind in Edo State, shows his love and passion for the development of youths as well as the unearthing of budding talents in every nook and cranny of the state.”
Ilaboya, who was appointed on October 9, pledged to use his experience in sports administration to restore grassroots sporting activities and create opportunities for young athletes.
“I equally want to extend my deepest gratitude to him for finding me worthy to drive this project. I want to assure the good people of Edo State that I am equal to the task and will do my very best to restore vibrancy to grassroots sports development in our dear state.”
He explained that the proposed programme would go beyond identifying talented athletes to provide continuous engagement for young people, with sports serving as a means of discouraging involvement in social vices.
“Beyond talent discovery, the Governor’s vision is to keep our youths productively occupied so that they have little or no time for social vices,” he said.
Ilaboya disclosed that his immediate priority would be consultations with grassroots sports stakeholders to secure their support before introducing a training programme designed to strengthen sports development at the community level.
“We are designing a holistic, year-round strategy that will keep the youths engaged in line with the Governor’s vision,” he explained.
“Our immediate priority is to engage grassroots stakeholders to secure their buy-in. Next, we will roll out a train-the-trainers programme to build a network of competent partners at the community level.”
He added that his office would collaborate with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and other relevant government agencies to ensure effective implementation of the programme.
Ilaboya also identified sports as an important instrument for tackling youth restiveness, arguing that sustained participation in organised sporting activities could help keep young people productively engaged.
The former Edo FA chairman said the success of the initiative would depend on deliberate planning, stakeholder cooperation and the establishment of structures capable of sustaining grassroots activities throughout the year.
