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Your Excellency, my
desire is to be part of the solution to this generation and never to be
part of the problems. This is one of the reasons why I chose to
concentrate on sports development and not sports promotion —
especially in the way and manner promotion of sports is handled in this
part of the world. I must admit that it is not a popular choice, simply
because most of those responsible for developing sports at the
grassroots are not adequately aware of the socioeconomic, educational,
political, health, cultural and rehabilitation benefits that the
general public, especially millions of young Lagosians, can enjoy from
genuine sports developmental programmes.

This is not only a
travesty, but very unfortunate and unacceptable, more so when this
greatly blessed state is presently being governed by an active
supporter of sports, and undoubtedly one of the very few
football-playing governors in Nigeria today.

But need we blame
anyone for this shortcoming? No! We are faced, in Nigeria, with massive
sociopolitical and economic problems and challenges, so much so that
the quest for “stomach matters” and other mundane societal issues have
totally beclouded our vision to appreciate the truth that grassroots
sports development is the sine qua non for any form of sports
promotion. For instance, instead of thinking of the social benefits of
grassroots sports development, or ways by which sports and education
can be positively exploited, environmental risks and psychological
burdens have become major challenges and threats to the society at
large.

Modern-day children
and teenagers have experienced and are still experiencing rapid changes
in the condition of growing up. This is a process which has become far
more accelerated than previous generations. These changed conditions,
not only offer new opportunities for children and teenagers, but also a
new variety of burdens and threats, which we parents, were not exposed
to. Particularly for adolescents, there are many new physical,
emotional, social and spiritual pressures, accompanied by the fears of
failure.

Your Excellency,
this is the scenario in Lagos State right now and unfortunately, this
is what most of those responsible for grassroots sports development are
either absolutely ignorant, or have intentionally decided to ignore
what is required hence, the nonchalant attitude exhibited, to the
detriment of our beloved children, who are expected to be holistically
prepared for future leadership roles, using the nonthreatening platform
of sports.

Fear of failure

The fear of failure
is, however, more intensely felt by parents – especially in Lagos
State, than the children, teenagers and youth of this state, because of
numerous social and often times in Nigeria, spiritual implications
like, “How do we handle these young ones already exposed to social
vices?” or “Why should my own children not succeed – whatever the
success benchmark is?”.

Talk about success
in sports and the quest for a career in sports, may have to do with the
viability sports commands in the state. You know very well, Your
Excellency, that an organism or organization or structure that does not
grow, will eventually become extinct.

Coupled with this
fact of life is the truth that there should always be a
natural/successional pyramid that has a base (foundation) and of course
an apex. Every human being, no matter the social status, has plans to
progress in life. This is why students, will employ very uncanny and
unwholesome means to pass examinations, so as to be promoted or
admitted into schools. Public servants will falsify anything
falsifiable, to get what they want, e.g., promotion, but I must own up
to the fact that there are some very credible servants amongst them.
Politicians seek recognition, dominion and promotion. The chairperson
of any local government council desires to move from the LGA to the
state, the Senate and to the presidency.