Functional Facilities Are Key to a Viable Sports Sector – Osetoba
Dr. Olusola Osetoba, Technical Advisor to the Ekiti State Governor on Sports Development, says Gov. Biodun Oyebanji’s strategy for sports growth is anchored on the provision of functional facilities, describing infrastructure as the foundation of a viable sports sector.
Dr. Osetoba made the statement on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, during a sports facilities tour organized by the Ekiti State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) to mark the 2026 SWAN Day.
Although SWAN Day is officially observed nationwide on Feb. 1, the Ekiti chapter commemorated the occasion with a guided inspection tour aimed at giving members first-hand insight into the scale of investment in sports infrastructure across the state.
Leading the tour, Dr. Osetoba said the Ekiti State Government is deliberately developing facilities ahead of the full operation of the state sports commission. According to her, there can be no effective sports commission without standard and functional facilities.
She noted that the administration has also addressed long-standing mobility challenges within the sports sector, explaining that old official vehicles have been repaired while a new coaster bus has been procured to support athletes and sports administrators.
At the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti, Dr. Osetoba guided SWAN members through several completed and ongoing projects. These include the construction of a volleyball court and the establishment of a Red Cross office to enhance athlete safety and emergency medical response during sporting activities.
She said the old administrative block has been renovated, while a new administrative building has been constructed. The stadium’s main building has also been fully renovated, with fixing of new VIP seating area and the replacement of reserve benches with modern facilities.
Other upgrades at the stadium include the installation of a FIFA-approved Astroturf pitch, floodlights for night games, and an electric scoreboard to replace the old manual board. Roofing of the sitting terraces is ongoing, while construction of the tartan track continues, with all required materials already on site.
Dr. Osetoba disclosed that a heavy-duty generator has been purchased to ensure stable power supply within the stadium complex. She added that hostel construction is ongoing and confirmed that Gov. Oyebanji has approved the full completion of the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium.
The tour also covered the Ekiti Indoor Sports Hall, where the engineer in charge said the facility is expected to be completed by the end of May 2026. When completed, the hall will host no fewer than 16 sports, in addition to offices and support rooms. He added that the facility is fully accessible to persons with disabilities and equipped with elevators for ease of movement.
Dr. Osetoba further assured journalists that no sports facility has been abandoned anywhere in Ekiti State. She also disclosed that a large expanse of land along Iworoko Road has been earmarked for the construction of another stadium.
Also speaking, Dr. Ekundayo of the Office of Transformation and Service Delivery said the facilities are being closely monitored and, when completed, will support youth development and host national and international competitions.
Members of SWAN described the tour as revealing, noting that it provided clear insight into the scale and direction of sports development under the Oyebanji administration.
Those present at the tour included Dr. Olusola Osetoba; Mr. Toyin Ayoola, first chairman of SWAN, Ekiti State; Alhaji Deji Ogunsakin, SWAN South-West vice chairman; Alhaji Qozeem Oladapo, chairman of SWAN, Ekiti State; and other members of the association.
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