TODAY’S VIEWPOINT IS ON THE APPOINTMENT OF MISS WASILAT ADEGOKE AS OYO STATE COMMISSIONER FOR YOUTH AND SPORT. IT IS WRITTEN BY AANUOLUWAPO FASOYIN OF OUR NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT.
A Yoruba adage says “business ventured into and hidden from children will not last longer”, perhaps, this was what made President Muhammadu Buhari to sign into law the not-too-young-to-run bill in 2018.
In 2019, aside from kwara state governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, who appointed 26 years old serving corps member, Joana Nnazua Kolo, not only as first female commissioner for youth and sports development, but the youngest in the history of the country, governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state also sworn in Seun Fakorede as the youngest state commissioner.
In august 2023, President Bola Tinubu appointed a 400-level student in the Department of Economics at the University of Ibadan, Miss Orire Agbaje, as a member of the presidential committee on fiscal policy and tax reforms and just recently, 29-year-old miss Wasilat Adefemi Adegoke was sworn in as the first female commissioner for youth and sports in Oyo state.
The Lanlate-born commissioner succeeded Seun Fakorede, who became sports commissioner at the age of twenty-six in 2019.
Coincidentally, they are both from Ibarapa zone of the state, and Wasilat adegoke will taste same responsibilities and challenges of that of Fakorede.
Lest we forget, Adegoke will be presiding over the affairs of a ministry with two separate entities with a series of challenges that are overriding its achievements.
To write her name in gold, Miss Adegoke will be aiming to surpass the feats of her predecessor, whom during his tenure, Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan and some other township stadia were given facelift, Oyo state contingent came 4th at the 2022 national sports festival in delta state, moving up two spots from Edo 2021 edition of the festival, among other achievements.
Away from sports, youth empowerment and development are some of the tasks awaiting the fresh graduate of statistics, who will also give approval to activities of Oyo state sports council, shooting stars sports club of Ibadan, Crown FC of Ogbomoso, the national youth service corps, NYSC, Oyo state Youth Agency and other Parastatals under her ministry.
Though none of Miss Adegoke’s records reflected her involvement in sports, however her participation in grassroots politics and fruitful consultations with relevant stakeholders are factors that would guide her in her new position.
Also, the polytechnic, Ibadan graduate must be courageous, proactive and determined in her dealings to avoid being shadowed and irrelevant.
The Oyo state commissioner for youth and sports should not focus on football development alone but redemption of grassroots sports, creation of female football club, returning shooting stars sports club of Ibadan, 3sc and Crown FC of Ogbomoso to continental and top flight positions should top her to-do list.
While working towards achieving her set goals, Miss Adegoke should ensure that the Oyo state wins the hosting rights of the national sports festival, while some abandoned projects of her predecessor are completed and ensure they are of public use during her tenure.
If Miss Wasilat Adegoke will embrace constructive criticisms and put all factors, the world will be excited to see her smiling home as a fulfilled woman and at the long run, shape her for greater pursuits in future.
