By Balarabe Oshiafi
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun has upheld the unifying force value of sports in our national life at the on-going 14th biennial police games tagged Oluyole 2024.
According to a news release signed by force Public Relations Officer ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi and made available to Expressday the police said,” the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, while joining the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, who represented the President Bola Tinubu, as the special guest of honour, on Saturday to declare open the 14th Biennial Police Games tagged Oluyole 2024 at the Adamasingba Sports Centre, Ibadan.
He reassured that the Nigeria Police Force will leverage on its sporting capabilities to improve on peace, unity, stability, and development of Nigeria.
“The IGP noted that the Nigeria Police Sports have been instrumental to producing champions who have, and are still representing the country nationally and internationally in various sporting competitions. He similarly emphasized the vital role of sports in fostering camaraderie, discipline, and mutual respect among officers and members of the public noting that such competitions serve as platforms for promoting teamwork, physical fitness, and healthy competition among officers from various Commands and Formations of the Force.
“Expanding the theme of the event which is ‘Competing for Peace, Unity, Stability, and Development of Nigeria’, the IGP stressed that the 14th Biennial Police Games symbolizes the collective resolve of the Nigeria Police Force to promote national cohesion and solidarity through spirited participation in various sporting events to showcase the athletic prowess of officers while reinforcing the values of professionalism, integrity, and service to the nation which are crucial to our collective safety and national development in Nigeria.
“The Inspector General of Police while appreciating the Governor and good people of Oyo State for their support in hosting the event, extended a warm invitation to the public to join in celebrating the spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie during the 14th Biennial Police Games by uniting in cheering the sportsmen on, in this renewed drive to bring policing closer to the people through sports, as the Force intends to showcase and discover new talents in the sports circle of the police towards national development”, the release said.