In a spirited show of support and motivation, the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has urged the country’s Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) to see their participation in the upcoming 22nd National Sports Festival in Ogun State as a defining moment in their sporting careers.
Speaking during a visit to their training camp in Abuja on Wednesday, Olopade engaged the young talents in an uplifting interactive session, encouraging them to strive for excellence and embrace the unique opportunity they’ve been given.
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“This is the first time Nigeria is having this sort of arrangement,” Olopade declared, referring to the groundbreaking inclusion of the IJA as the symbolic 38th state at the Games. “For those of you who make it to Abeokuta, your names will be etched in history forever. Work hard—this is your moment.”
The IJA concept, a fresh initiative backed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is breathing new life into Nigerian sports by spotlighting the brightest young athletes across multiple disciplines.
These future stars have been carefully selected from across the nation to compete with the elite, bridging the gap between youth and professional sports.
“We believe in the talents of young people in this country,” Olopade affirmed. “If you were a champion at the Youth Games, now is the time to prove you can compete and win at the highest level.”
As an added incentive, Olopade revealed that standout performers could expect rewards. “If you win 10 gold medals at the Festival, there’s a big gift waiting for you from the chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko.”
The IJA team is set to compete in nine key sports at the Gateway Games, including Athletics, Badminton, Football, Para Athletics, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Wrestling, and Weightlifting.
In closing, the NSC DG expressed his heartfelt gratitude and encouragement: “Thank you for serving the nation and for your passion. May God guide you to greatness in this journey you’ve begun.”
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