Lagos State Alliance for Democracy (AD) governorship candidate Chief Owolabi Salis says his administration will support the development of boxing if he’s elected as governor.
Addressing reporters at a youth boxing tournament in Epe, Lagos, Salis said sports was a major income earner for many countries.
He added that Lagos would take advantage of its huge sports fanbase to position boxing for economic development of the state.
Salis noted that boxing had been neglected due to poor patronage, stressing he would encourage the sport at a grassroots level and work with all levels of boxing.
“We don’t need to debate the importance of sports. Like football and other games, boxing is capable of contributing to the development of Lagos and Nigeria at large,” he said.
“Part of the challenges the game is facing is that people prefer to watch it at home on their television,” he continued. “With this attitude, it will not generate substantial income. Therefore, we will look at the reasons why many prefer watching boxing at home instead of going to the stadium.
“The AD government in Lagos will provide the facilities that will encourage sports lovers to watch boxing live, this will go a long way to building professional boxing career for its practitioners in Lagos and Nigeria at large.”
The AD governorship candidate expressed satisfaction at the great talent exhibited by the youthful boxers, noting that Nigeria’s Anthony Joshua started the same way.
“I am impressed by the skills of the young lads, who are still in their teenage years,” he said. “Boxing is a game I have great interest for and I partake in it as a sporting activity. I have a place on the Epe axis which I hope to put up for use, as soon as the issues holding it down are resolved.
“I must thank the Epe youth for staging the tournament to drum support for me in the coming election which we are confident that we will win. They are in support of our programme operation ‘return the commonwealth to the people.”
–thenationonlineng.net
