Encomium
Team Lagos on Friday emerged as the winners of the maiden edition of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Games for South West Secondary Schools with the State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) charging the youths of the zone to interact and know themselves.
The Governor who spoke at the colourful closing ceremony of the DAWN Games at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere added that while the collaboration going on in the area is commendable, the youths must understand their environment and be conscious of its challenges and inspired by its opportunities.
Noting that a lot of collaboration is taking place between elected and appointed officers of the DAWN States in the areas of health, public works, agriculture, education, legislative work, security and many more, the Governor said while the result of the collaboration is visible in the increasing improvement of the quality of lives of the people; the interactions are centred around today and take place among relatively older members of the people.
Attention, he, however, explained should be paid to the future as represented by the Children and youth. “While it is good to deal with today, it is important to secure tomorrow. Only one generation has the greatest stake about tomorrow. It is the generation who are the youth today. They stand as our bridge to traverse from today to tomorrow”, he said.
Governor Fashola expressed happiness that the modest contribution of leaders in the zone towards developing the people through integration is already bearing fruits as evident in the number of children from the various states who are members of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, who have been in Lagos for the past eight days.
“The DAWN Commission is an initiative of the Governors of Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo States who are situated in the political area that used to be known as the Western Region of Nigeria, to come together in partnership to accelerate development of their region through the development of infrastructure, social service delivery and most importantly the development of the people”, the Governor explained.
He added that it is imperative for everyone to rededicate themselves and the nation to the development of education and the idea of safe schools, adding that sports and sporting activities provide one of the many other opportunities for interaction amongst young people, which is one of the things that gave birth to the DAWN Games.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director -General of the DAWN Commission, Mr Dipo Famakinwa said the hosting of the maiden edition of the Games is part of the journey towards the fulfillment of a vision.
He added that the Games constitute one out of a number of programmes aimed at discovering, encouraging and managing young talents in the South -West Region and forms part of the holistic roadmap for the economic and social integration of the Region.
Mr Famakinwa said Lagos State has already left a challenge with its hosting and that other South -West States who will be hosting the subsequent editions of the Games will take up the challenge and work hard to surpass the standard already established.
Lagos State took the first position winning 90 Gold medals, 61 Silver medals and 28 Bronze medals while Ogun State took second position with 16 Gold, 30 Silver and 33 Bronze medals and the third position was taken by Oyo State winning 7 Gold medals, 18 Silver medals and 43 Bronze medals.
The fourth position was taken by Ekiti State with 6 Gold medals, 6 Silver medals and 22 Bronze medals while Osun State placed fifth winning 1 Gold medal, 6 Silver medals and 11 Bronze medals.
Part of the highlights of the closing ceremony of the Games which attracted dignitaries like the Deputy Governor, Hon (Mrs) Adejoke Orelope- Adefulire, members of the State Executive Council including the Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, State APC Women leader, Chief (Mrs) Kemi Nelson and Alhaja Bintu Tinubu was the finals of the 4 by 400m and 4 by 100m Relays Final for Boys and Girls and presentation of medals and trophies to winners.
SIGNED
HAKEEM BELLO
SPECIAL ADVISER TO H.E ON MEDIA
MAY 23, 2014
