The Minority Leader of the Ogun State House of Assembly and Member representing Odogbolu State Constituency, Hon. Adeleye Lukman, has called on youths to embrace sports as a means to steer clear of social vices.

He made this call during a marathon race held as part of the activities marking the Irete Owo Ila Festival in Ijebu Irete.

Hon. Adeleye emphasized that sports remain a powerful unifying factor in society, transcending color, ethnicity, and religion. 

According to him, “The young lads of Irete have displayed exceptional talent by participating in the sporting events commemorating the Irete Owo Ila Festival.”

He further explained his decision to sponsor the event, aligning it with the state government's vision of discovering and nurturing hidden talents within communities. 

“The National Sports Festival is approaching, and sponsoring activities like this will help in identifying and developing local talent. Initiatives such as this are in line with the state's broader vision for sports development,” he stated.

Describing sports as "the new crude oil," Hon. Lukman noted that programs like these create opportunities for young people to build successful careers and earn a living.

He concluded by advising youths to stay engaged in sports, which he described as a productive and positive alternative to social vices.

This Newsplatform report that, in the male category marathon race, Ogunyemi Damilare emerged first, followed by Faniyi Remilekun and Abiola Salimot in second and third place, respectively.

In the female category, Balogun Ranti clinched first place, while Ogunfuwa Abibat and Adebanjo Aminat came second and third, respectively.