GBOYEGA MAKINDE: A PROPELLING FORCE OF SPORTS DEVELOPMENT IN OYO STATE
By Tunde Ajibike
He has a deceptive outlook. Though, he is a man that has uncommon physical strength and speed of endurance, but my first encounter with him depicted a man with militant mien and stern face which was typical of a force man preparing for the battlefield. But to my consternation, his attitude and behavior changed my opinion of this meek, gentle, affable and agreeable sports personality whose approaches to issues of life are not only pleasing but simple.
Mr Gboyega Makinde is passionate, devoted and committed to sports and sporting activities since his primary school days when he was playing round leather game for his school. He was resolute and unswerving about his ambition to excel with a view to become famous and revered athlete in Nigeria.
Inspite of his late father's interest and persistent encouragement to study Law in the tertiary institution after his secondary school, the young Gboyega did not hide his avowed aim and goal to study Physical and Health Education which he believed will ultimately serve as a pivotal to achieve his targeted career in athletics.
The vibrant and energetic General Manager of the OYO State Sports Council is sports personified. He wants to be remembered for devotion of his entire life for sports development in Oyo State. He started his Civil Service career in 1991 as a coach and later laterally converted to Sports Officer. For the past thirty one years, he has served in various capacities at the Oyo State Sports Council.
Without being immodest, this dynamic and versatile Sportsman has contributed immensely to the development of Sports by championing the last glories of Oyo State both at the National and International Competitions.
The impressive performance of Oyo State Contingents at the last Sports Festival revealed that they have surpassed many states by moving from 10th position to the 6th position. This development attested to the ingenuity and dynamism of Gboyega Makinde and his team which consist of Directors, Sports Officer, Coaches and the athletes. In recognition of his unrivalled and landmark achievements, he was given Distinguished Sports Merit Award by Organization for Grassroot Sports Development (OGSD) on 23rd March 2017. Also, he was given an Award of Excellence in Leadership and Productivities by the National Productivity Centre in collaboration with Leadership and Professional Ethics Consults on 25th November, 2020.
It might interest you to know that "Mankind" is a Multi-talented athlete who plays Round Leather Game, Badminton, Volleyball, Tennis and exceptionally good in handball.
Gboyega Makinde was born in the 60s to late Pa. Lawrence Ariyo Makinde of Oyegbola Compound, Ologede Area, Agbeni and Madam Margaret Funmilayo Makinde of Iperu Remo, in Ogun State of Nigeria. The father was a trained teacher and the mother, a successful business woman.
He attended Sacred Heart Private School, Ring Road, Ibadan and Loyola College Ibadan. He later moved to L. A. Grammar School, Ipetumodu where he sat for his School Certificate Examination in the year 1983.
In quest for further studies, he later gained admission to the College of Physical and Health Education Osogbo, the institution was later merged with the college of Education, Ilesha in 1984.
Mr Makinde left the College after the first year in the school when he secured admission to the University of Ife (O.A.U) to pursue a degree in physical and health Education in 1985. He graduated in 1989. In 1990, he did his one year National Youth Service Corp Programme at the Federal Government Girls College, Benin City. He was privileged to play football for the NYSC club in Bendel State and Handball for the Bendel State Sports Commission.
The sports icon enrolled for his Masters of Education in Physiology of Exercise at the Department of Physical and Health Education of the University of Ibadan and convocated in 1995.
"Makind" later rekindled his passion and interest for Sports Journalism shortly after he was appointed as Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Sports Council, he enlisted for Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (Ibadan Campus) in 1998.
This distinguished gentleman who has expended over three decades in steering the ship of Sports industry in the state recapitulated the major challenges confronting the development of sports in the state which includes: Paucity of funds; High cost of equipments; Lack of inadequate functional vehicles; Lack of involvement of the third tier of government in the facility development of sporting activities at the grassroot level. Educational system not prioritizing and combining sports with academic pursuits effectively; Inadequate awareness for the parents not to put much emphasis on the academic qualification at the expense of Sports; Inadequate incentives to encourage the participation of our youths in Sporting activities i. e. Scholarship, training grants and other support initiatives; Low partnership and participation of industries and conglomerates amongst others.
The values of "Mankind" are: transparency, liberalism and tolerance. The General Manager admonished the youths to develop positive attitude to everything in life adding that they should not give up on any endeavor they embarked upon. He cautioned the great leaders of tomorrow to eschew all negativities and focus on what they can do to add values to their lives and the country at large.
An adage says "All works and no play makes Jack a dull boy and Janet a dull girl" In response to the question "what do you do to unwind?"
"Yes, I love reading intrinstic books. As a matter of fact, it gives me a lot of inspiration. Also, at my leisure time, I also take delight in taking cold beer in company of friends and associates. Once in a while I take red wine as wAfter his retirement, he may opt for broadcast journalism. He believes anchoring Programme on electronic media will increase his leverage to develop sports by way of creating awareness and sensitizing members of the public that sports is beyond a mere entertainment, it is a career, a developmental vocation that paves way for employment and various opportunities at home and diaspora.
He gives level playing ground and equal opportunities to all the members of staff of the Sports Council. He despises ineptitude and lackadaisical attitude. He admitted that he is temperamental and some of his subordinates gave credence to this assertion. But by and large, one can vouchsafe that "Mankind" is a propelling force to reckon with in sports arena.
TUNDE AJIBIKE
Director Media and Communications.
Oyo State Sports Council, Ibadan.
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