Dr. Daisi Oke, wife of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial aspirant in Ondo state, Chief Olusola Oke, has called on government and sports stakeholders to revive swimming and other moribund sports in the country.
Dr. Oke also called for the elimination of all cultural, socio-economic and political stumbling blocks to the girl-child and women in educational pursuit, career actualization and personal fulfilment.
She made the calls while speaking to journalists in Akure, the state capital.
The Ondo state-born educationist said the place of sports in human health and total wellbeing cannot be overemphasised considering the reduced physical mobility occasioned by technology and industrial growth, particularly in the 21st century.
Dr. Oke, who had won medals in swimming for the state in the past, described the sport as therapeutic, saying it impacts positively on the human body as a result of the kinetic movements involved.
Recalling her swimming dexterous prowess with nostalgia, she narrated how she was able to transcend the limitations in swimming, particularly the opinion of her parents about having to dress sparingly as a girl child.
She said there is a complementary relationship between sports and learning as human endeavours, adding that she was able to complement her academics with her love for swimming.
Bemoaning the paucity of female trainers, handlers and patrons, she charged stakeholders to be deliberate about revamping swimming and other sports in the country.
Dr. Oke noted that she was able to break through the challenges that threatened her access to education, just like others in her shoes at the time.
She therefore admonished the girl-child and women generally not to permit anything to break their resolve to be what they desire and which God has ordained for them in life.
The school administrator and successful business manager stressed the need for good mentoring, goal setting and diligent pursuit of set-goals.
She expressed confidence that sustained good personal efforts and emplacement of required supports by parents, government and donors would make access to education seamless.
According to her, Nigeria education system has great potential for the development that the nation passionately desires.
