January, 22 2022.
Ogbomoso, the hometown of Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare went agog Friday as prominent community leaders and dignitaries across the country graced the finale of the DAD Foundation table-tennis competition sponsored by the Minister, in honour of the late Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Oladunni Oyewunmi.
Dare, the Agbaakin of Ogbomosoland, a high Chief, organised the competition as part of activities lined up for the 40 days Fidau prayers in honour of the late paramount ruler.
Amongst dignitaries that spoke at the event was the former Director of Kwara State Sports Council, Mr Tunde Kazeem who described the Minister as an exemplary performer whose accessibility and humility is unparalleled for leaders of his ilk. He charged individuals and members of the private sector to take a cue from the Minister by adopting a Sports to support, or an athlete to develop, stating Government cannot develop Sports alone.
President of the Ogbomoso Community Youth Forum, Rev. Peter Olaleye commended Dare for not only initiating the table-tennis competition but for investing in the on-going construction of a befitting Sports centre for the town. He went down memory lane to narrate how the Minister assisted the Forum with cash donation to rehabilitate a very bad portion of a major road, even though his assistance wasn't solicited. "The Minister is an empathetic leader with a heart for the people. Even though we tried to dodge his donation because we didn't request for it, he found a creative way to get it to us and this hastened the rehabilitation of that road, for the benefit of the people," Rev. Olaleye added.
A representative of the Minister's friends, Dr. Dan Okeke, an APC chieftain from Abia said they were in Ogbomoso to support the Minister because he is always there for his friends despite his hectic schedule. He revealed how Dare visited Abia State, and stayed for 3 days when he had a function, playing a pivotal role. On behalf of the Minister's friends, he pledged an undisclosed amount to support the APC in Ogbomoso and also cash gifts for winners of the competition.
Cash gifts were later presented to the winners of competition by the Minister as the community looks forward to the commissioning of the Sports centre in a few weeks.
The roll-call of dignitaries at the event include Oba Dr. Sunday Ademola Ogunmola, Alaje of Ogbomosoland, Oba Adeyemi Ajibade Fajoye, Olubere of Ogbomosoland, APC chieftains across Oyo State, friends and associates of the Honourable Minister.