The chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Lagos State chapter, Olatutu Oladunni, has commended the Lagos state Governor, His Excellency Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa on the significant step they have taken in restructuring sports sector in Lagos early in the New Year.
The Lagos State Government alongside the Lagos State House of Assembly has over time displayed productive synergy via realistic policies that continually enhanced the all-around development and growth of every sector in Lagos State, making Lagos unrivalled city attraction to credible investors across the globe.
Following the recent appointment of Olalekan Fatodu as the new Director General of Lagos State Sports Commission, it has clearly indicated that the vision T.H.E.M.E.S agenda of Governor Sanwo-Olu alongside the Vision Statement of the Legislative Arm will move sports to another dynamic level of excellence as sports sector in lagos no doubt will be taking a better dimension of significance in commercialisation.
Lekan Fatodu who was a former Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Social Development Goals (SDGs), will definitely bring the dynamic infusion into sports, being an expert in communications strategy and a professional in diplomatic engagements.
Olatutu Oladunni in a statement on Wednesday hails the executive and legislative arms of government in Lagos State for the amiable strategic move, describing it as a timely effort to restructure, reposition and re-energise the spirit of sports excellence and its progression in Lagos which will confidently open a wider opportunity for many yet undiscovered talents that will foster the future of sports success in the state.
Oladunni, who is currently the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Certified Protocol Professionals and Diplomatic Relations in Nigeria said, she is very confident that the newly appointed DG will take the sports sector in Lagos to another better height of productivity based on his remarkable wealth of experience in international development.
The SWAN chairman, Oladunni, who is a member of the International Center for Protocol and Diplomacy, London, expressed her confidence, saying, the newly appointed DG, Lekan Fatodu, will surely deliver as he will tap into the versatility attributes embedded in international diplomacy and foreign relations, which will enable sports to grow faster.
Oladunni, who is the first female chairman of Lagos SWAN said, sports has gone beyond the regular conventional practice, instead sports has become dynamic and creative in its own nature.
Olatutu who is also a member of Aviation Round Table urge the Fatodu to embrace the ingenuity of “Sports Diversification” and its entire functionalities.
According to her, Sports Diversification includes tapping fully into the benefits and opportunities in sports as the only unifying religion to bring lasting integration, and also tapping into the Diaspora components embedded in sports which include sports diplomacy, sports protocols, sports travels and of course the art and creative aspect of sports which are sports culture, sports art, sports tourism, sports fashion, sports entertainment, sports tech., sports safety and sports security,” Oladunni said.
She noted further that “you can see it is very clear that sports is not just a mere recreational activity that people term it to be, but sports has become a tool of bilateral integration that boosts bilateral trade, negotiations, policies and agreement, thereby phasing out compulsion and compellation that exist amongst diplomatic nations, it has also become a creative art, working art, that promotes tourism, travels and entertainment which are all promotional elements of economic growth on IGR of a progressive nation.
“So, with Lekan Fatodu’s decades of experience in international development, strategic communications, and diplomacy, I have no doubt he will redefine the sports sector in Lagos and ensure his diplomatic experience and background play a profitable role in sports diversification and its development,” Lagos SWAN chairman said.
Oladunni therefore urges Faodu to work closely with every stakeholder in Lagos, especially the sporting press professional body, Lagos SWAN. She said he should try and embrace the full spirit of sportsmanship and ensure he initiates and establishes a robust working integrating relationship with the Lagos SWAN and other relevant sports agencies as a collective effort brings bountiful excellence of credibility.
“We commend Governor Sanwo-Olu once again for this great move and we hope Lagos State continues to progress as Fatodu will focus on maximizing the leverage of sports as an effective tool for talent growth, human capital development, social inclusion, gender equality, and peace, among other social goods that can be derived from purposeful sports development,” she said.
*Source: Lagos SWAN Secretariat
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