The state government’s ‘deliberate programmes’ aimed at discovering and nurturing talented children from the grassroots thrills Director, Ogun State Sports Council, Princess Iyabo Rotimi-Dada.

The sports boss, who disclosed that the current World, Commonwealth and African 100 hurdles champion, Tobi Amusan, was a product of the government’s grassroots programme, said the country would become great again in sports if all stakeholders joined in unearthing and nurturing young talents.

She said: “Amusan was discovered from the grassroots and at a school’s inter-house competition in Ijebu Ode by a lady coach, Mrs. Alaba Ogunde, who later became Amusan’s coach before other coaches took over from her.

“Apart from the story of Amusan, there was also a time we discovered some young and talented swimmers in the state, who were given just little training at Equity Resorts Centre, and thereafter, they competed with Lagos State and won nine medals despite Lagos having more sports facilities than Ogun.”

Rotimi-Dada, who was speaking during the inter-house competition of Christ College (The Green Acres), Aiyetoro, urged both privates and public primary and secondary schools to emulate Christ College’s management’s commitment to sporting activities.

In his speech on some of the challenges of the nation’s education sector, Chairman and Board of Governors of the college, Pastor Samuel O. Olatunji, prescribed a mechanism that would monitor outputs from private schools. This, according to him, would boost both moral and academic standards of products of private institutions.

The College’s Head of Department (Boarding), Mr. Gideon Ashaye, who spoke on behalf of the chairman, said, “the management of the college spends much on sports activities to enhance the physical and mental health of the students.”

Also present at the event was Prof. Timothy Olabayo, who represented the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Abeokuta.

He described inter-house sports as one avenue to discover and develop good talents. Noting that education is a catalyst to champions, he summed up other factors needed to make good champions as discipline, diligence, determination and dedication.