Ex-internationals Daniel Amokachi and Mutiu Adepoju have advocated for sponsorship as a means of boosting sporting activities in Nigeria.
Amokachi, an Ambassador of Adron Homes, made the clarion call on Tuesday at the unveiling of the 2024 Adron Games at Adron Towers, old Visa building, Molete, Ibadan.
This year’s 8th edition of the games, titled “Fit to Be the Biggest,” will run from September 29 through 30 at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The event is expected to attract 9,200 diverse audiences comprising low- and high-income earners, including students, farmers, officials, staff, and participants. It will feature exhibitions, as well as showcase Nigeria’s rich culture.
Speaking further, Amokachi said although sports had received wide recognition across Nigeria, it was still not seen as business and therefore not getting the anticipated sponsorship from people.
“Sports is very important in Nigeria today, but sports in Nigeria today is still not business. And it is not business because the people that are supposed to be supporting sports are not doing that much.
“The chairman is singlehandedly committing huge resources every year to hosting the games, and that’s why I said sports is still not business. We just came back from the Olympics without a medal, and Adron Games has been bringing sports personnel for the past seven editions featuring varieties of sports from basketball, volleyball, track and field, among others, and sponsors and our government are refusing to see what we are doing here.”
“I commend the initiative, Aare. This is one of the things important organisations should be doing. And over the years, we have seen the proof of it, as sports unites and makes you fit, and I can see how united the Adron family is. Without any doubt, Adron is the biggest, and I want to wish everyone that is participating all the best,” Adepoju added.
Delivering his opening speech at the unveiling of the Adron 2024 Games, the Chairman and Chief Executive of Adron Group, Aare Adetola Emmanuel King, represented at the event by the Managing Director, Adron Group, Mrs. Adenike Ajobo, said the world of business and the world of sports were not so different as they both demand discipline, resilience, and a relentless drive to succeed.
He said, “As we all know, the world of business and the world of sports are not so different. They both demand discipline, resilience, and a relentless drive to succeed. We believe that by promoting physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle, we are also nurturing the core attributes that lead to success in every field of endeavour. It is in this spirit that Adron Games continues to expand, allowing participants from all walks of life to showcase their talents, test their limits, and build lasting relationships.”