By Goodluck Ikiebe.
The Nigerian Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, has declared open the 6th National Youth Games holding in Ilorin, the Kwara State Capital, with the affirmation that the Games has consistently served as an effective platform for talent identification and development for young athletes in the country aged 15 and below to achieve excellence in sports.
The Minister, who was represented at the opening ceremony on Friday, by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, stated that this year’s edition of the Games is unique ”as it is intended to produce formidable athletes that will represent Nigeria at the African Youth Games in Ethiopia in 2022 and the next Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal.
He noted that, “as a Nation, we will tap into the euphoria and excitements of the Youth Games to produce the best that will represent and do us proud.
Mr Dare stated further that, the Ministry’s strategic plan to reposition sports at the grassroots level and to facilitate the discovery of budding talents in the country, is being realized.
” I am glad to inform you that through the organization of the annual Youth Games , the Ministry is actively achieving its mandate of creating a pool of potential athletes that can continuously represent the country at international Youth competitions”, he stated.
While assuring of the quality of athletes for the Games that are capable of doing the country proud anytime, anywhere, Mr Dare urged all concerned National Sports Federations to take advantage of these Games to gauge their sports developmental objectives as well as further develop the identified talents to the benefit of the country.
Dare, who thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for granting approval for the hosting of the games, assured
that the present Administration is not only committed to the development of sports in the country but also in the utilisation of youth potentials to enhance socio-economic growth for the betterment of all Nigerians.
In his own remarks, the Permanent Secretary , Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar,
thanked
all the participating State governments for their support.
He called on them to invest more in grassroots sports development.
Our Correspondent reports that thirty -five states including the FCT, Abuja, are participating in this year’s National Youth Games.
