Babatunde Fowler, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has commended the officials of the Basic Olive Opportunity Sports Training (BOOST) led by the Mary Onyali Sports Foundation (MOSPORTS) for their concerted efforts to bring up a new generation of athletes to make the nation proud.
Mr Fowler spoke on the occasion of unveiling the 5,000 FIRS-branded jerseys his organisation towards the efforts of some of the nation’s retired athletes who have set up the BOOST project.
He said, “we intend to take the tax payment message to every Nigerian. For the young ones, they will get to know that it is the continued payment of their taxes that guarantees their future.”
Speaking earlier, Chief Onyali told the FIRS boss, “We are here to appreciate the massive support the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has given us on the Basic Olive Opportunity Sports Training (BOOST). Certainly, we can’t thank you enough. The children who your impact will touch will some days grow to become global leaders and won’t be able to forget what you planted like a seed in their maturity.
“May we report to you sir that the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has keyed into our project and we are jointly setting up six National Athletics Development centres, one each in every region. The first is in Ondo State. We were with the governor last week. Some of these jerseys will be used in the state. Every of the children in the tennis programme we started with the first lady, Arabinrin Betty-Anyanwu, will get a copy of these jerseys.
The 11 of us behind the BOOST project, will be in Maiduguri for a project tagged Kanem Sports+Peace initiative, where we have started raising funds to buy equipment in five sports, employ coaches to take sports to children and youths in the IDP camps. Our ambition is to help assuage the trauma they gone through and give them an assured sports career. We are taking some of the exercise books you gave us to them too.
Mr Fowler unveiled the jerseys to the glory of God and the children and youths who will find the jerseys useful for the to make a career and bring honour to our country.
Senior staffers of the FIRS witnessed the event. Former captain of the national team and Zamalek SC handball player, Olajide Fashikun was also present. Four children modeled the jerseys to the admiration of the people present.
