Sunday Dare, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, has said the Federal Government is committed to bring back resurgence of various sporting activities and culture of sports to discover young athletes who would go on to represent state and country at the national and international levels.
The Minister, gave the disclosure in Ilorin when he paid Courtesy visit to the Kwara State Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi in his office ahead of the commencement of the fifth National Youth Games holding at the University of Ilorin.
He reveals that over five thousand Athletes are in Ilorin for the fifth National Youth Games (NYG).
Dare, who thanked the Kwara State Government and the people that have been involved in the preparation for the Games says the Athletes would participate in various sporting events.
The Minister expressed the hope that budding talents that would represent the Nation in internatuonal championship would be discovered during the two weeks fiesta.
He acknowledged and appreciated the Kwara State government for its supports on National Youths Games over the years and solicited for more.
While affirming that Kwara State is one of the sports loving state in Nigeria, the Minister hinted that the state would soon host one of its international competition.
Responding, the State Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi restated government commitment to develop grassroots sports for discovery of more talents.
Alabi who recalled his playing days in the seventies as a footballer and handballer representing kwara state identified sports as a unifying factors among Nigerians.
The Deputy Governor noted that the State Government has been supporting the National Youth Games and would continue to do so to make sure hidden talents are uncovered among the youths in the state and country at large.
He called on the three tiers of government to use sports to positively engage youth and reduce poverty.
Alabi further revealed that the State had produced stars in the past especially in Table Tennis, Badminton and in Athletics pledged that the present administration would give attention to sports to maximise it advantages.
The Minister who was accompanied to the Government House by top government functionaries including the Main and Local Organizing Committees for the fifth edition of the National Youths Games presented a track suits to the Deputy Governor.
SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin
