Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has inaugurated five sports courts at the Ondo State Sports Complex in Akure as part of efforts to improve sporting infrastructure and support youth development.
The facilities cater for Abula, beach volleyball, handball, basketball and volleyball.
According to a report published by The Guardian on October 10, 2026, the governor was represented at the inauguration by his Special Adviser on Union Matters, Bola Taiwo.
Aiyedatiwa said the facilities were intended to provide athletes with a better environment to develop their talents and encourage young people to engage in sports.
He also said similar facilities would be extended to other sporting zones across the state, describing the inauguration as the beginning of further improvements to sports infrastructure.
The governor explained that the project had been awarded earlier but experienced delays before the appointment of Oladimeji Abimbola as Chairman of the Ondo State Sports Council.
According to the report, Aiyedatiwa credited Abimbola with accelerating the project after he assumed office and invited contractors back to the site.
The governor also raised concerns about the employment status of athletes using the sports complex, saying many were not employed as full-time staff of the state government.
He said the government would explore ways to employ some of the athletes, with the aim of improving their motivation and performance.
Chairman of the Ondo State House of Assembly Committee on Sports, Jide Oguntodu, commended the administration for providing the facilities.
Oguntodu described the project as evidence of efforts to engage young people productively. He also expressed confidence that the government would provide more sporting facilities.
In his remarks, Abimbola said his 16 years of experience at the sports complex had given him an understanding of the challenges facing the council.
He said the council had begun taking measures to improve athletes’ welfare and motivation, adding that better support was necessary to help them perform well.
The inauguration comes as the Ondo State Sports Council pursues plans to improve sporting facilities and strengthen athlete welfare under its new leadership.
