President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori have agreed that the country has made less progress in sports in recent years.
Both spoke on Thursday September 12, 2024, during the official opening ceremony of the 8th National Youth Games holding at the Stephen Keshi Int’l Stadium, Asaba, the State capital.
Areas analysts have identified are basketball, boxing, football, and athletics were among the African sports in which Nigeria had held a prominent position.
They expressed concern about these decreases given the country’s lengthy history of sporting success and the potential of its large youthful population.
The degeneration of the country’s sports industry is demonstrated by the Nigerian team’s performance in the just concluded Olympic competition as Nigerian delegations brought no medal back home.
According to the governor, “Nigeria’s performance at recent world sporting events is on the decline.
“It is my considered view that the age limit for the National Youth Games should revert to the original age limit of U-17, as against the current U-15.
“This is to provide a platform for our talented “senior teenagers and young adults” to quickly migrate from junior category to senior category of Team Nigeria in all sports and games without a break or vacuum”, Oborevwori suggested.
The governor told President Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of Sports, Senator John Owan Enoh, said; “Athlete development is not just about sports performance, but it is also about developing social and ethical skills.
“As I observed last year, the National Youth Games has proven to be a cost-effective and reliable tool to promote national unity and advance development and peace agendas of both the national and sub-national governments.
“It is equally imperative that states give priority attention to school sports programmes. There should be compulsory inter-house sports competitions in primary and secondary schools as well as the consolidation of school sports festivals.
“It is our joy and pride to host this event for the second year in a row. Delta State, as you know, is synonymous with sports in Nigeria.
“We are happy to continue to provide the space and opportunities for the nation’s youths to showcase their talents and ensure that there is a standard program for athletes’ progression in the country.
“Let me also appreciate the Federal Ministry of Sports Development and the Local Organising Committee for their steadfastness in organizing the National Youth Games. With about 6,000 athletes and over 1,000 officials participating, this year’s edition of the National Youth Games is record-breaking.
“The Delta State Government is proud to partner with the Federal Ministry of Sports Development to ensure that the goals and objectives of this event are realized. The National Youth Games is a powerful vehicle for athlete development”, Oborevwori, stressed.
President Tinubu said the NYG was devoted to talent hunting and talent nurturing, adding that there was no better way to develop the nation’s sports than to concentrate on grassroots sports development, which the youth games represents.
He said the nation must continue to look at the National Youth Games as a nurturing or talent ground for the future of our sports.
“I hope that the different sporting federations representing the sporting federations of our country are here on the ground to watch the games related to their different sports and to be able to discover firsthand the talents that need to be nurtured for the future of our sports,” he said.
President Tinubu disclosed that his administration was dedicated to repositioning sports for optimum performance in line with its Renewed Hope Agenda, pointing out that it was imperative to invest more in grassroots sports development.
On the age limit of the games which is currently pegged at 15 years and below, the President said he agreed with the governor that the nation should return to the initial age classification of making the games to be under 17 years and below.
He lauded the government and the people of Delta State for their sustained commitment and support for grassroots sports development in the country.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, LOC, Chief Solomon Ogba, said Delta was renowned for sports and thanked the State Government for always hosting national and international sports competitions involving the country.
While commending Governor Oborevwori for his financial and moral support to the Delta athletes and coaches, he assured all athletes from across the country of adequate accommodation and transportation throughout the 8th National Youth Games.
