The Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has assured the President, Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), Hamad Kalkaba, that state would host the best championship ever like they did in 2013 during the inaugural African Youth Athletics Championships (AYAC).
Kalkaba was hosted in the office of the Delta State Governor on Monday with his entourage which included his wife, Solomon Ogba, the President of the Athletics Federations of Nigeria (AFN), Falilat Ogunkoya; Olukayode Thomas, AFN’s Head of Media among others.
Okowa said that with good planning, it was possible to organise and put together a good and memorable show.
While admitting that finance was important in fulfilling a mission, he pointed out that a good workforce and experience hands were quite vital and that the state had all in abundance.
The governor noted that although Nigerians love football more, athletics was more important as it engages more youth than any other sports.
Besides, Okowa said that it was imperative to encourage many youths to be engaged in athletics.
“Africa needs to believe more in itself and work harder to be the best in the world and give a lot of exposure to the youth,” he said.
The governor reiterated that Delta State was ready to host and would soon unveil the plans for a successful hosting.
“Thank God it is next year, Delta is ready to work with the AFN, CAA to put together a world class event and we are looking forward to a successful hosting,” he assured
On his part, the CAA president thanked the governor for being ready to host the rest of the continent.
He said that the Niger-Delta especially Delta State was very important to the CAA due to the abundance of talents in the region.
Kalkaba pointed out that the 2018 Senior Athletics Championships was very important as the representatives for Africa to the World Cup would be selected in Delta as Africa’s best will be competing in the oil-rich city.
He said that the CAA was ready to assist to make Asaba 2018 a world class event.