NAN-S-5
Insecurity
By Ajibola Olaniyi
Osogbo, Nov. 23, 2016 (NAN) A sports enthusiast, Mr Leye Adeola, says there is the need for government at all levels to invest in sports development at the grassroots to curb youth restiveness and insecurity in the country.
Adeola made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Osogbo.
He also advised philanthropists in the country to invest in sports development to complement the efforts of the governments in ensuring security.
According to him, sports have the potency to engage idle minds among the youth roaming the streets and indulging in sundry criminal activities.
He explained that vices were on the increase because of inadequate activities that could keep the youth busy.
The fan expressed regret that inter-house and inter-school sports competitions were no longer feature periodically “youths are no longer developed and encouraged to win laurels’’.
According to Adeola, talented sportsmen and women are being selected from annual events to represent their constituencies in national and international tournaments.
“Our country needs conscious grassroots sports development to engage the youth positively in the face of prevailing security challenges in our nation. Throw a ball into the field and see the passion for the sport.
“The interests of the youths must be enlisted by making available adequate sports facilities.
“Insurgents are also lovers of sports, they are fans of one sport or the other, so they could be engaged as well and take their minds off criminal activities.’’
Adeola also said there was the need to strike a balance between education and sports, saying that an educated person performed better in sport.
According to him, there is a nexus between crime prevention and passionate youth participation in sports when the government and corporate bodies invest in them. (NAN)
DOO/OSA/MO/PDE
==============
(Edited by Shittu Obassa/Morayo Omolade/Peter Ejiofor)