University of Ilorin, Kwara State, north-central Nigeria has been granted another five years hosting right of the annual National Youth Games.
The National Youth Games, which debuted in 2013 in Abuja, is for athletes within 15 years of age from all the states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The University of Ilorin has been hosting the tournament in the last four year after it was given the right to host for five years since 2014 at its permanent site. This year’s competition, which is ongoing, will end on 17 September 2019.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Sulyman Age Abdulkareem disclosed during the opening ceremony of the 5th edition that the reason for the renewal of the hosting right the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports was glaring to see, adding that the Ministry has seen the level of organisation, the conducive environment coupled with world-class facilities provided by the university authority since it has been hosting the tournament.
The VC noted that the university authority would not deviate from the template it has been using in the organisation of the NYG, especially now that it has graciously received an extension of the hosting right, a back to back right of another five years.
“This is confidence reposes on us and we will leave nothing to chance to ensure that we don’t disappoint,” the VC said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Sports, Mr. Adesola Olusola, who spoke through Dr. (Mrs) Toyin Aluko, an Assistant Director in the ministry, said that the union between the Ministry and University of Ilorin is a bond of the desire and seriousness shown by the institution on development of sports and qualitative organisation of the Games.
The Permanent Secretary applauded the progression the NYG has made since the first edition in Abuja in 2013 with 15 sports and has moved up the ladder to 34 sports in the 5th edition in 2019.
The Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare said that the Games has lived up to the expectations of why it was set up, adding that the competition has helped in discovering budding athletes who have been made available for the country to prosecute international competitions.
“The 5th edition of National Youth Games has shown the unflinching commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari towards developing our teeming youths and give them a great future,” said the Minister, who was represented by Mr Ademola Are, Director of Sports Development in the Ministry.
The Minister applauded University of Ilorin for playing a good host to the Nigerian youths in the last four editions.
Governor of Kwara State, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the state’s Ministry of Sports, Alhaji Shuaib Akanbi, warned the athletes to compete clean in all the sports, adding that the Nigerian youth should resist all temptation to get rich quick as this will definitely lead to failure and disgrace.
