Encomium
The wife of the Ondo State Governor, Chief Mrs. Betty Anyanwu -Akeredolu has kicked off the 2nd Edition of the State Summer Tennis Clinic for children between ages 4-13 at the State Sport Complex, Akure.
Mrs. Akeredolu who used the opportunity to charge parents on the need to give their children necessary support to excel, urged the young trainees to take advantage of the opportunity to attain their dreams as known World Champions of today also started out when they were young.
While expressing delight that some Ondo State citizens have keyed into the vision of doing things on their own instead of waiting for government’s assistance, Mrs. Akeredolu called on the parents to give rackets to the children as a way of encouraging them to excel.
” We can now do things on our own without waiting for the government’s assistance. Virtually all my programmes are citizen driven. We want to do things differently from what it was in the past. To the parents, I will like to appeal to you to get rackets for your children as a way of encouraging them”, she added just as she thanked members of the organising committee for doing a great job while she was away from the country.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman Organising Committee, Otunba Tajudeen Akinyemi observed that over 270 boys and girls participated in last year’s Summer Tennis Clinic. He lauded the efforts of the First Lady in reviving sporting activities in the State thereby making Ondo State a Tennis hub where the likes of Serena Williams and Roger Federer will be produced.
Otunba Akinyemi who further called on parents and other well meaning Nigerians, most especially sons and daughters of the State, to partner with them in the project also stressed that the tennis clinic is essentially designed to identify and develop talents in the children.
The Honourable Commissioner for Sport in Ondo State, Hon Saka Ogunleye in his remark, thanked Arabinrin Akeredolu for her contribution to sport development in the State just as he added that through the programme, hidden talents will be discovered.
Two of the Participants; Udo Joshua and Efunsile Aanuoluwapo said they would leverage on the opportunity provided by the wife of the governor to become great in Tennis.
No fewer than 250 students between the ages of 4 and 13 are taking part in the Summer Tennis clinic which holds between August 23rd September 1st, 2018.
