Lagos state governor Babatunde Fashola on Friday unveiled 57 athletes who have been adopted by sponsors in the state’s Adopt-A-Talent sports programme. Governor Fashola said that the future of Nigerian sports can only be built on young athletes that are tapped at their tender ages, noting that the problem of Nigeria’s poor performance in sports emerged because there is a fixation about getting immediate results.

The governor adopted 20 of the athletes while the state deputy governor, Adejoke Orelope Adefulire adopted 10, Chief of staff, Lanre Babalola adopted 2 while the Commissioner for Youth and sports, Enitan Oshodi adopted 2 athletes in table tennis.

“I thank the sponsors and it is not that it will cost you only money, it will also cost you time to help us weld together as a village and community to build our own. As you adopt these children, they would need your mentorship and guidance; they would need your protection. It becomes duty bound not to abuse them for sex or for reward of any type to be undertaken here”.

“These are some of the obligations that you carry; this is philanthropy and sacrifice for the nation. It may seem not to have reward today but it does have rewards. I was at the 40th Asoju Oba Table Tennis competition some three of four years ago and nothing humbled me more than the connection between each of the products of that championship and the sponsor, Chief Molade Okoya- Thomas as everyone related with him affectionately. I hope in truth, someday when these children have fulfilled their promise, they will be able to look at all of you and truly and deeply call you daddy and mummy, I hope also that our children would seize this opportunity with both hands”, Governor Fashola said.

The Governor also gave kudos to the coaches that have been signed on to train the budding athletes, adding that the government has gone for the very best who have excelled during their own time and are getting good results already with the kids.

The Adopt-A-Talent sports programme was initiated in 2010 with six sports, namely, athletics, basketball, boxing, football, table tennis and volleyball.

“Sports is talent it does not last forever, you will be lucky if you are still competing at 30. And that would need a life of discipline, good diet, good medical care and the one you cannot control which is major injuries. If it happens, there is nothing you can do about it. And that is why it is important that you must have an education first” the Governor enjoined the athletes.