Sports essential for keeping youths away from crime – CP Adekimi Ojo

By Ahmed Olayinka

The Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, CP Adekimi Ojo, has called on youths in the state to shun criminal activities and take advantage of sporting opportunities to develop their talents and improve their livelihoods, THE PRIME NEWS reports.

CP Ojo made the call at the closing ceremony of the 17th edition of the Kwara State Commissioner of Police Cup, organised by the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) in Ilorin.

The Commissioner described sports as a unifying force and an effective means of engaging young people positively, stressing that keeping youths occupied with productive activities would help reduce crime and youth restiveness.

He noted the Police Command would continue to support grassroots sports development as part of its community engagement efforts aimed at promoting peace and security across the state.

CP Ojo urged young people to identify their talents and make good use of available opportunities in sports, noting that sporting careers could provide both personal fulfilment and economic benefits.

Assessing the quality of football displayed during the finals, the police boss commended the participating teams, particularly the male and female players, for their impressive performances.

He said Kwara had a reputation for discovering and nurturing sporting talents from a young age, adding that the performance of the young players at the tournament demonstrated the potential available in the state.

CP Ojo also commended YSFON, coaches, team officials, parents and other stakeholders for their contributions to the success of the competition.

He reiterated the commitment of the Kwara State Police Command to supporting initiatives that promote youth development, community engagement and a safer environment across the state.

In the Final Matches, Future Stars FA emerged champions of the U-17 Boys category after defeating Koller FC 3-2.