The Sports Director, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Mr. Bayo Oluwatoki has commended the impressive performance of Nigeria’s contingent at the just concluded 2012 Paralympics, held in the City of London.
Mr. Oluwatoki gave the commendation while fielding questions from FUNAAB Bulletin in his office recently.
According to the Sports Director, the paralympians did the Nation proud by winning six gold, five silver and three bronze medals, which placed the country on 22nd position on the medals table and 3rd position in Africa.
Mr. Oluwatoki disclosed that the University’s Sports Directorate is working towards raising a physically-challenged student team that will participate in the Inter-collegiate competition for the 2012/2013 academic session.
He said the Directorate’s primary aim is to encourage physically-challenged students in intramural sports and to get them into the mainstream so that they can develop their abilities from their disabilities.
Mr. Oluwatoki also hinted that Sports’ Directors of Institutions of Higher learning are presently working on a blueprint that will allow physically-challenged students to participate in the Nigeria Universities Games (NUGA).
The Director called on the Federal Government and other stakeholders in the Sports industry to encourage the development of sports right from the primary school in order to be able to compete well with World giants in the area of sports.
“We should not promote sports but develop it”, he added.
He also lauded the excellent performance of the Falconets at the just concluded U-20 Women World Cup in Japan, stressing that the performance should be sustained by preparing early for the next competition.
Mr. Oluwatoki expressed worry over the structure of sports affairs in the country which is causing setback for sports development and which does not allow for continuity.
He advocated for the resuscitation of the Women’s league like the Men’s league in Nigeria stating that this will help the country to raise a formidable and robust women football team.
The Director said the female football team of the University will be given due attention in the 2012/2013 academic session so that they can participate fully in the Intercollegiate competition.
He appealed to the government to find a lasting solution to the failed sports system if we want to make meaningful impact as a country in the next edition, adding that, “the issue of drop-outs dominating sports should be dealt with by the government”.
