In recognition of her contributions and service to sports development, Adekunle Adebiyi Sports Foundation over the weekend honoured the Director of Sports, Ogun State Sports Council (OGSSC), Princess Folakemi Iyabode Rotimi with an award of excellence.
The award ceremony occurred at the closing ceremony of the 5th Mama Tunde Alaso Racket Festival held at the Squash Courts, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta on Saturday.
Eleven other awardees were also honoured at the event, they were His Royal Majesty (HRM), Oba (Dr.) Adedapo Adewale Tejuosho, Osile of Oke Ona, Egbaland; Prince Alabi Adelanwa; Hon. Justice George Oladeinde Shoremi; Hon. Justice Ademola Bakre, and Mrs. Onikepo Ortsematosan Adebayo.
Others included Mr. Bola Osibowale; Chief Hon. Emmanuel Oladipo Akingbade; Professor Tayo Talabi; Coach Kehinde Ake; Late Coach Sam Oladunjoye, and Late Brigadier M.S. Toki (rtd.).
Reacting to the award, Mrs. Iyabode disclosed that the award was another call to service in her sporting career. And to commemorate the kind of efforts she has been putting into sports especially at the grassroots level.
Aunty as fondly called said: “This award will spur me to do more for the things I have passion and affection for over many decades. It is a wake up call to do more exploits in nurturing young and promising future champions for the state and Nigeria at large.
“I thank God for the privilege to achieve and do better, all glory be unto Him. I will continue to work for the growth and development of grassroots sports across all the local governments in the state.
“My aim is to raise athletes that will become somebody in the near future. And that is part of my advocacy at Ewekoro local government area whereby pupils that we have discovered over there are doing well for the state.
“Example of such is Adetolani Asiyanbi, a pupil of Adeoye Lambo Memorial School, Obada who represented Ogun State at the recent 6th National Youth Games in Ilorin, she won two bronze for the state. It has not happened in the history of the school before.
“We have so many other talents in various schools where the sports council is monitoring to stardom. And we will achieve this together with the help and cooperation from my God given coaches and other officials in the council.”
