Press Releases

Teslim Balogun Indoor Sports Hall Named After Okoya-Thomas

Nov 28, 2008 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Friday named the indoor sports hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere after Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas as a mark of honour for his contribution to the development of Sports in the State.

Governor Fashola, who made the announcement at the finals of the 40th Annual Asoju Oba Cup Table Tennis Championship at the indoor Sports Hall of Rowe Park in Yaba, said the Teslim Balogun Stadium indoor sports hall would henceforth be known and called Sir (Chief) Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall.

Addressing spectators and participants at the occasion which had in attendance the crème-de la crème of the Lagos society, including traditional rulers, sports administrators and enthusiasts as well as government officials and international observers, said the honour was overdue to show appreciation to the industrialist and sports administrator who, according to him, “has single-handedly sponsored the development of this Sport in the last 40 years”.

He urged other well-to-do Lagosians and Nigerians to take up the sponsorship of other sports saying, “As far as I know, Chief Okoya-Thomas did not hold any government office when he started this sponsorship 40 years ago. He did not need a title to serve”.

The Governor called for the recreation and re-establishment of the sports now called lesser sports saying, “We must go back to the basic sports that build personalities. These are the things that build leadership, the I-can-do-it spirit in the youth. The current President-elect of the United States of America, Mr. Barack Obama is an ardent Basketball player”.

He said as a Government, his administration would, from next year, make Table tennis, Basketball and such other sports a regular in the sports calendar of the State adding that already the State Government has started the development of Street Soccer, the current championship of which is at its final stages.

Governor Fashola also announced that from next year, his administration, as part of efforts to boost youth development in the State, would be restoring the Boys Scout Movement, the Girls Guide and other such youth movements to harness the strength of the youths towards positive ventures.

Describing Table tennis as “the sport that bind Lagos together”, the Governor, who said so many Lagosians had passed through the sport in the last 40 years, declared, “I passed through this place myself. As I stand here, so many memories pass through my mind. We cannot thank this patriot enough”, adding that the industrialist was a man who has written his name in the heart of the young men and women who have at various times played in the tournament.

He commended Chief Okoya-Thomas for keeping the spirit and letter of the sport going for 40 years and by so doing contributing immensely to the development of the youths in the State, adding, “any attempt at immortalizing you is to my mind not of much use because you have already been immortalized in the hearts of these youths, for wherever they are, they will remember you”.

He told Chief Okoya-Thomas, “We cannot thank you enough, but I think the joy is that you are alive to see the products of your endeavour”. The Governor also congratulated the participants, the referees and others who contributed to keep the spirit of the sport alive and make the championship a success.

Earlier, in the female singles championship, Miss Ganiat Ogunleye defeated Miss Olaide Atinuke in four straight sets by three to one to win a brand new Solan Renault car while in the men’s singles championship, Seun Ajetumobi defeated Anthony Jombo to also clinch the first prize of a brand new Renault car.

Also among the capacity crowd that watched the event were the Fist Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, the Deputy Speaker, Mrs. Fumilayo Tejuosho, the Executive Chairman of Yaba Local Government, Mr. Oladele Jimoh, captains of industries, and past champions of the Championships from across the world.