The Unjustifiable Closure of Ondo State Stadiums — A Blow to Sports and Talent Development
3 min read
By Sportsgister
On September 1st, 2025, sports lovers in Ondo State woke up to a shocking directive from the office of Honourable Segun Omoyofunmi, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development.
In a circular dispatched to zonal heads across the state, the commissioner ordered that “all sporting activities should be put on hold at all the stadia across the state pending further directive.”
No reason was provided. No timeline was communicated. No explanation was given as to whether the facilities would undergo renovation or a much-needed facelift. For now, the directive remains a blanket order: silence on the pitches, emptiness in the stands, and frustration in the hearts of athletes, coaches, and sports enthusiasts.
A Directive That Harms More Than It Helps
Sporting facilities are not mere structures; they are lifelines of communities. Stadiums and government fields across the 18 local government areas in Ondo State serve as breeding grounds for future champions, safe spaces for youth engagement, and vital hubs for grassroots development. By shutting them down indefinitely, the government has inadvertently placed the brakes on progress in three critical areas:
1. Grassroots Talent Discovery
For decades, Ondo State has been known as a fertile ground for discovering raw sporting talent—from footballers to track athletes and beyond. These young talents hone their skills on government fields and stadium pitches. With the closure, countless young boys and girls are now deprived of the opportunity to showcase, refine, and grow their abilities. Dreams are stalled, and potential future stars may be lost to street idleness or social vices.
2. Community Development and Youth Engagement
In a state where unemployment and youth restlessness remain pressing challenges, sports provide an outlet for positive engagement. Local competitions, school tournaments, and weekend matches help channel youthful energy into constructive pursuits. The suspension of these activities across all local governments removes a vital tool for community peace, cohesion, and empowerment.
3. Statewide Sporting Calendar Disruption
The ban is not only a local inconvenience—it cripples the sporting calendar of the state. Clubs preparing for competitions, schools grooming their athletes, and academies relying on these facilities for training now face total disruption. Ondo State risks falling behind its peers in national and regional tournaments because athletes cannot train under standard conditions.
Lack of Transparency and Communication
What is most troubling is the commissioner’s silence. If the closures were to facilitate renovations, one would expect timelines, budgets, and a clear roadmap. Instead, stakeholders are left in the dark, unsure whether to prepare for weeks, months, or even years of inactivity. Such lack of transparency not only breeds suspicion but also undermines public trust in the administration’s commitment to sports development.
The Way Forward
This editorial is not a condemnation of the commissioner’s office, but rather a passionate appeal for reconsideration and accountability. If the facilities are indeed due for renovation, let the government come forward with clear plans, timelines, and assurances that athletes will not be left stranded. Alternatively, if there are no concrete reasons for the closures, the directive should be lifted immediately to restore sporting life across Ondo State.
Sports are more than games—they are catalysts for youth empowerment, tools of social cohesion, and engines of economic opportunity. To close all stadiums and government fields without explanation is to dim the hope of thousands of young people whose only dream is to play, compete, and rise to greatness.
Ondo State has always prided itself as a sporting hub in Nigeria. It must not allow this avoidable decision to erase years of progress. The time to act is now.
Sedara Philip is a Sports writer, an administrator,Journalist,and editor
