The Chairperson of Oyo state Netball Association, Ambassador Romoke Ayinde has told numerous corporate sponsors in the country to emulate SAO Petroleum in the provision of sponsorship for sports development in Nigeria. Speaking at the unveiling and exhibition of Netball in Oyo state and Nigeria held at the indoor sports hall of the Obafemi Awolowo stadium, Ibadan Ambassador Ayinde stated that Chief Salmon Akanni Oladiti of SAO Petroleum had belled the cat regarding the sponsorship of netball in Oyo state.
She explained that SAO petroliem has showed the way which other corporate bodies should follow.
“ I would like others to cue in and follow the footsteps of SAO Petroleum which sponsored the unveiling and exhibition of netball in Oyo state in order to encourage other sports lovers
knowing how much sports is to the unification of our beloved country,Nigeria” She enjoined.
Ambassador Ayindetevealed that the date of the inaugurationof Netball in Oyo state which was October 18, coincided with her birthday adding that this was the a day of double celebration for the numerous lovers of sports and herself.
She posited that “ sports is a unifying factor while the development of netball a necessity stressing that to develop and take it a level where it would be a domineering sports sports in the international scene is task that must be done “
The Chairperson said that this was the reason their motto is “ Aim High . Reach the sky “ reminiscing that netball was one of the sports in Nigeria with international recognition just as she lamented its cancellation at the 1973 All African Games was due to inactivity in the sports thus making it a stranger to the Nigeria sports scene.
Ambassador Ayinde sated that the “ whistle is now blown for the sports of netball which had been in the doldrums for the past fifty years noting that it was high time it was brought back to life.
