The Governments of Oyo and Osun states have rolled out plan of activities for a joint state burial ceremony for the late football administrator and international footballer, Taiwo Ogunjobi.
The planned activities were announced on Wednesday by the two state governments at a joint news conference held at the premises of the Oyo State Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ibadan.
Addressing newsmen, the Oyo State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Yomi Oke, disclosed that activities have been planned to involve all the south-west states and football administrators in the country.
He said the programme would feature novelty matches, symposium and a candle-light procession for the deceased in Ibadan from March 13 to March 15.
The lying-in-state, according to Oke is expected to take place at the main bowl of the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan on Thursday, March 14, while the church service comes up at Living Spring Church, Ojoo in Ibadan, before the interment.
A Director from the Osun State Ministry of Sports, Layi Adesiyan, said the state had aligned its programmes for the burial with those of Oyo state to ensure a smooth and befitting burial for the late footballer and administrator.
“There will be a novelty match between Ijesha Warriors and Osun United Football Club on Tuesday, March 12 in appreciation of the deceased’s contributions to the development of grassroots football in Osun, his home state.’’
Son of the deceased, Lanre Ogunjobi, disclosed that the family would establish a foundation to care for the society’s less privileged in memory of his late father whom he said cherished education during his lifetime.
READ ALSO: SPORTS FLAKES: ANOTHER TAIWO OGUNJOBI DEPARTS
“Basically, the foundation is going to be one aimed at encouraging students to focus on their education. You can go to school and play football at the same time. This, he did during his lifetime.
“We have the intention of speaking with the Commissioner for Education in terms of scholarships for these students,” he said.
Recall that Ogunjobi died on February 11, 2019, at the University College Hospital, UCH, in Ibadan following a brief illness. He was aged 66 years.
He was a former Secretary-General of the then Nigerian Football Association, NFA.
Some of the dignitaries at the news conference were Ayodeji Ogunjobi, Rotimi Ogunjobi, Bolaji Ojo-oba, a former General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, ex-Nigeria internationals, Mutiu Adepoju and Dimeji Lawal.
