New Dawn for Ondo Sports As Oladimeji-Led Sports Council Board Assumes Office

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By Sportsgister

The newly constituted Board of the Ondo State Sports Council officially assumed office today, Monday, August 31, 2026, in a grand style, as the Chairman and members of the Board were warmly received by the management and staff of the Council at the Sports Complex.

The appointment of a new Board mark a significant development in the history of the Ondo State Sports Council, as the Council had last had a substantive Board about nine years ago.

The present Board was appointed by the sports-loving Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, who designated Hon. Abimbola Oladimeji as the Chairman and team leader, alongside Hon. Babatunde Martins Boriwa and Hon. Ibiloye Mathew Abiodun as members, with a mandate to work with the management of the Council, headed by Mrs. Evelyn Lebi, to reposition and take sports in Ondo State to greater heights.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Board, Hon. Abimbola Oladimeji, expressed appreciation to the Ondo State Government for the opportunity and privilege to serve the people of the state in that capacity.

He spoke passionately about his vision for sports development in the state, pledged to deploy his wealth of experience to rejuvenate the sector through strategic restructuring and the creation of a conducive and athlete-friendly environment.

According to him, creating a friendly and supportive environment for athletes and officials would encourage them to give their best and ultimately produce better results for the state.

He noted that success in sports is largely dependent on the level of commitment and investment put into it, saying, “Sports is garbage in and garbage out. The energy you put into sports determines the results you earn.”

The Chairman assured athletes, coaches and staff of the Council of a better tomorrow, promising that the new Board would work closely with the management to achieve meaningful transformation in the sports sector.

While receiving the Board on behalf of the management and staff, is the General Manager of the Ondo State Sports Council, Mrs. Evelyn Lebi, appreciates Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for what she described as a timely and significant intervention in the affairs of the Council.

She expressed optimism that the new Board, working hand-in-hand with the management, would collectively revive and reposition sports in Ondo State.

Lebi described the Sports Council as a peculiar institution that deserves to be treated with the utmost honour, dignity and importance.

According to her, “”Sports is healthy, sports is life.”

She noted that beyond recreation and entertainment, sports plays a vital role in promoting healthy living, discipline, unity, talent development and youth empowerment.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Chairman of the Ondo State Football Association, Otunba Dele Ajayi, described Hon. Abimbola Oladimeji as a humble, talented and goal-oriented personality who, by virtue of his experience and passion for sports, has the capacity to take the sector to greater heights.

Otunba Ajayi, while offering words of wisdom to the new Board Chairman, advised him not to rush into making decisions on crucial matters.

He urged the Chairman to always seek the facts, conduct proper findings and ensure that his decisions and actions are based on accurate information.

The assumption of office was witnessed by dignitaries from across Ondo State, including the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Alhaji Amidu Takuro; Chairman of the Ondo State Radiovision Corporation (OSRC) Media Group, Mr. Kenneth Odusola-Stevenson; Chairman of Odigbo Local Government, Otunba Taiwo Adegoroye; members of the Football Association; Referees; Sports stakeholders; Management and Staff of the Sports Council; as well as people from Odigbo, Ore and other parts of the state.

The colourful event marked what many described as a new dawn for sports in the State, with stakeholders expressing optimism that the new Board, in collaboration with the management, would usher in a new era of growth, development and greater achievements for the state’s athletes.