By Isaac Afolabi
The Chairman of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Prince Biyi Poroye, has reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to revitalising sports within the oil-producing communities of Ondo State.
Prince Poroye disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the management of the Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA) at the Ondo State Sports Village, Oda Road, Akure.
He announced plans to resuscitate the defunct OSOPADEC Football Club, establish a women’s football team, and renovate abandoned sports facilities within the commission’s mandate area as part of efforts to promote youth engagement and talent development.
Commending the ongoing transformation in Ondo State football under ODSFA, Prince Poroye praised the achievements of Sunshine Queens for winning the First Lady Pre-season Tournament, as well as the renovation of the sports village and the re-grassing of the ODSFA pitch.
“Anywhere football is played, there is joy — you never see people mourning. People cheer, celebrate, and unite through the game,” he said. “At OSOPADEC, we are expanding our focus beyond infrastructure and welfare to include education, training, empowerment, and now, sports development.”
He also revealed that the commission would support not only football and swimming but also extend its focus to other sports such as wrestling and boxing, to provide more opportunities for youth participation.
In his remarks, the Chairman of ODSFA, Mr. Divine Ogbonaya, described the visit as “historic” and lauded Prince Poroye’s commitment to sports growth in the state.
Ogbonaya noted that the passion of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for youth development has made the agency’s work easier, promising that more successes would be recorded in football and other sports in the state.
The OSOPADEC delegation was later taken on a tour of the sports village to inspect the ongoing re-grassing of the football pitch and other infrastructural upgrades.