Lagos State Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Barrister Waheed Enitan Oshaodi is a pragmatic and easy-going man. Despite his tight schedule, it did not take him long to agree to meet with Sunday Vanguard Sports for an interview. He spoke with Jacob Ajom and Sylva Eleanya at his Teslim Balogun Stadium office. He spoke on the Lagos plan of action viz a viz the forthcoming National Sports Festival, Eko 2012. Below is an excerpt of the chat that lasted just 15 minutes.
Lagos will be hosting Nigeria in the forthcoming National Sports Festival in November, what is your projection – in terms of competition and organisation, generally?
Our projection and target for the Games is to be the best host ever, although this has not been made easier by the standard displayed by the last host, Rivers State at the 2011 Games in Port Harcourt. It is our intention to move a notch up. Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola has asked for excellent facilities, athletes' welfare and comfort for all contingents as well as visitors. The governor has been very helpful and with his continuous support, we will achieve our goal.
In terms of competition, how will Lagos finish? Is it going to be the usual slogan of 'hosting to win?'
With the plans we have put in place, we are confident, we will do well. I know it will be difficult to beat traditional frontrunners like Delta, Edo and others, but we will compete strongly and fairly. I foresee a resurgence in athletics as we have nurtured so many young athletes in the past few years, I believe it is time for them to explode. We will insist on fairness and transparency, particularly on the medals table. Luckily, the DG in the National Sports Commission, Dr Patrick Ekeji has assured us that the best technical hands will man the Main Organising Committee. We, in Lagos are prepared to compete in line with the best international practices.
Before the Games, there will be a list of all the sports and number of medals at stake. It is more important that the festival is seen to be fair and transparent than just doing it anyhow. We will insist on fairness and transparency. It is not going to be winning at all cost.
There was supposed to be a Lagos State Sports Festival that would offer room to test-run the facilities on ground and select athletes for Team Lagos. When is this coming up?
The Lagos Sports Festival is still in place. It will be coming up between 14 and 26 of May, 2012. There will also be a Schools Sports Festival that would run alongside the State Sports Festival. After the competitions, Team Lagos will then be selected.
The final entry for the National Sports Festival will be done sometime in September. We still have a lot of time on our hands to try as many athletes as possible before the Games.
Apart from the State sports Festival, we have the quarterly club competitions; the sports associations are holding competitions regularly for the athletes. What we are doing is not just for the sports festival. We intend to make it a continuous developmental programme to encourage the athletes and laying a foundation for corporate bodies to get involved in sports development. Government cannot do it all alone.
How do you motivate your athletes for optimum performance?
We have been able to look into the issues bothering on the welfare of athletes, giving them educational scholarships, 420 of them are on monthly stipends. The governor has also approved and, we have engaged the services of 107 coaches to re-enforce our coaching staff. We will maintain and strive to improve on this as time goes on. We are laying a foundation for sound sports development.
One issue that has taken the front burner in the polity is insecurity. How do you intend to check this during the festival?
Our security apparatus is up and doing. The state commissioner of Police is chairman of the Security sub-committee. They are working round the clock to ensure all the visiting contingents and visitors to the state are well secured. They are working round the clock and I can assure all the athletes and officials coming for the Games that Lagos is the safest place to be. We are ready.
Although you have been in sports for sometime now it's surprising that your appointment has coincided with an increase in sporting activities at all levels. What has been the secret?
Well, there is no secret. We have a very good team and we have been given total support by the governor, who is a sportsman himself. He has been very supportive.
We have put the welfare of the athletes before any other consideration. This has seen the emergence of young talented athletes who will feature at the Sports Festival. But beyond the festival, we want to have a production line. That is why we have revamped Schools sports, club competitions and the like. We will soon see the result or our programmes.
Only last week, the Main Organising Committee for Eko 2012 were in Lagos for the final inspection of facilities on ground. and Lagos was certified almost ready with over 80%. How do you co-ordinate the Local Organising Committee so effectively?
Members of the committee are committed people with the executive Secretary, Dr Tandoh as the man at the centre. They work round the clock to ensure everything goes on well. They have shown passion and commitment. Most of them are from the private sector – just like myself – and they have brought to the committee the same commitment they show in their private businesses. But there is still a lot to do.
You talked about the the committee being dominated by private businessmen. How has the private sector responded to your call for partnership?
We enjoy a very good rapport with the private sector. It has been so since my days as chairman of the Table Tennis Association. The openness of our programmes and sincerity of purpose give them the confidence to deal with us. We also explain to them the benefits inherent in sports sponsorship. The synergy is working well. And come to think of it, His Excellency, the governor is our chief marketer. He is doing so much. We are all working hand-in-hand with the private sector.
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