By Goodluck Ikiebe
The Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Delta State Government
in respect of the Award of Hosting Rights for the four (4) Editions of the National Youth Games (NYG) covering the period, 2023 to 2026.
The Honourable Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr Sunday Dare, while signing the MoU on Tuesday at the Government House, Asaba, stated that
Awarding the Hosting Rights to Delta State for the next four years is one of the enduring legacies of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration.
Dare stated further that with “the MoU signed today, the Ministry has secured the organisation of the youth fiesta for the next 4 years.”
He explained that the document signed has been perused and certified okay for signing by both parties and thus, “signing the document by both parties is a critical step that would signpost the commencement of activities for the successful organisation of the first in the series of the Games in September, 2023.”
Responding, the Executive Governor of Delta State, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, stated that Delta State Government agreed to sign the MoU with the Federal Government because it believes in the development of youth right from the grassroots in Sports.
He assured that Delta State Government will ensure the successful organisation and hosting of the Games like other sports fiestas it had been opportuned to organize in the past.
Governor Okowa called on State Governments in the country to key into the development of the youth, especially in the area of grassroots Sports.
According to him, Delta State “has been a leading champion in almost all the sporting competitions, we need States to challenge us, let them get prepared early enough to compete at least for second position because Delta will ever maintain its lead”.
Senator Okowa thanked the Federal Government for giving Delta State the Hosting Rights of the Youth Games for the next four years.
