By Uzor Odigbo
The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared open the 7th edition of the National Youth Games, holding in Asaba, Delta State.
The President who was represented by the Hon. Minister of Sports Development, Sen. John Enoh said that the Games should promote the spirit of friendship amongst all states.
He urged all state officials and athletes to compete with the spirit of fairness and togetherness, while putting the interests of the nation first.
Meanwhile, the governor of Delta State Rt.Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, after welcoming everyone to the State, said, the National Youth Games has come to stay and a powerful vehicle to discover new talents from the grassroots and ensure that there is a standard programme for athletes’ succession in the country.
He recalled that the National Youth Games has also 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.
According to him, “when effectively harnessed, sports has the power to positively impact on the economic and social wellbeing of any society.”
Sports he noted, plays a great role in “The realization of development and peace in its promotion of tolerance and respect and the contributions it makes to the empowerment of women and of young people, individuals and communities as well as to health, education and social inclusion objectives.
“Our belief in these ideals is unshakable. Hence, the Government of Delta State has continued to make its resources available to host national and international sporting competitions.
“In 2018, we hosted the African Senior Athletics Championship, and, in November 2022, the 21st National Sports Festival.”
The Governor reiterated that the Stephen Keshi Stadium has become a venue of choice for hosting national football championships, as Delta is becoming the mecca of sports in Nigeria.
He assure all participants of a peaceful and exciting games as security personnel, protocol officers, traffic management teams, and volunteers are on ground to ensure a peaceful, safe, and secure environment for athletic competition.
The governor finally assures that adequate arrangements for hitch-free movement across the length and breadth of the city adding that, “there has not been a single report of security breach in previous competitions that we have hosted, and, by God’s grace, this year’s event will not be an exception.
“To all our athletes, the moment of truth has arrived. Your family, friends, and well-wishers are rooting for you to seize the moment and launch yourself into national prominence. As the saying goes, records are meant to be broken. So, I challenge you to set new records and take Nigerian sports to another level, now, let the games begin.”
Earlier in his address, the Delta State Sports Commission Chairman, Chief Tonobok Okowa also welcomed all participants and urged Team Delta to win for the state and give him a parting gift as this would be his last Youth Games as the Commission’s boss.
