Wife of the Ondo State Governor, Betty Akeredolu, on Thursday kicked off the second edition of the State Summer Tennis Clinic for children between ages four and 13 at the State Sport Complex, Akure.
Mrs. Akeredolu, who used the opportunity to charge parents on the need to give their children necessary support to excel, urged the trainees to take advantage of the opportunity to attain their dreams as many world champions, started out when they were young.
While expressing delight that some Ondo indigenes have keyed into the vision of doing things on their own instead of waiting for government’s assistance, the governor’s wife called on parents to give tennis rackets to the children as a way of encouraging them to excel.
“We can now do things on our own without waiting for the government’s assistance. Virtually all my programmes are citizen-driven. We want to do things differently from what it was in the past. To the parents, I will like to appeal to you to get rackets for your children as a way of encouraging them,” she said, just as she thanked members of the organising committee for doing a great job while she was away from the country.
Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman Organising Committee, Otunba Tajudeen Akinyemi observed that over 270 boys and girls participated in last year’s summer tennis clinic. He lauded Akeredolu’s efforts in reviving sporting activities in the state.
Akinyemi, who further called on parents and other well-meaning Nigerians, especially sons and daughters of the state to partner with them in the project, also stressed that the tennis clinic is essentially designed to identify and develop talents in the children.
Two of the participants, Udo Joshua and Efunsile Aanuoluwapo, said they would leverage on the opportunity provided by the wife of the governor to become great in tennis.
No fewer than 250 students are taking part in the clinic.
