Lagos Seeks Corporate Support For Adopt- A-Talent Sports Program

In a bid to ensure that the objectives of the Adopt-A-Talent Sports Program are achieved, Lagos State government has sought the support of corporate organisations in the country.

The support, which will come in form of partnership, would be in cash and value-in-kind for the athletes.

Prince Wale Oladunjoye, the Senior Special Assistant on Grassroots Sports Development to Governor Raji Fashola, who headed the Central Working Committee of the project, said the committee in conjunction with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development had put in place a lot of benefits for the sponsors, among which is a platform for the sponsors to be part of the machineries established by the Lagos State government to drive sports and human capital development programmes of Fashola’s administration.

He said the partnership would also be an avenue for the sponsors to build enduring relationship with the state, with the government providing channels to enable corporate bodies endorse their brands on various events and emerging sports stars.

Apart from the annual recognition and patronage from the State Government, the sponsors would also get possible tax incentives from the State and the Federal Governments.

“The sponsors will be on government protocol list for state functions and important sporting events. Company’s names will be on the Hall of Fame of the sports program-this will be displayed in a prominent location during the program’s events,” he said.

The Adopt-A-Talent Sports Program is designed to discover and create a pool of budding talents below the age of 18 years in the various disciplines, expose them to a scientifically structured all-year-round training program.

Governor Fashola had approved for the first phase of the program sports like Athletics (100m, 200m, 400m 4 x 100m, 4 x 400m relays), Soccer/Beach Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball/Beach Volleyball, Boxing and Table Tennis.

Other sports added to the second phase, which starts in January, 2012, are Swimming, Gymnastics, Judo and Karate.

“The average cost of adopting an athlete in any of the sports is less than N15, 000 per month,” Prince Oladunjoye said.