As the curtain fell on the 8th edition of the National Youth Games held in Asaba on Thursday, the Minister of Sports Development, Sen. John Enoh, has harped on the importance of the nurture and development of young talents discovered at the games to transform into world-class athletes.
In a statement on Friday by Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Sports Development, Diana Mary-Nsan, the minister applauded the high level of discipline and sportsmanship displayed by the athletes during the games and said that the ministry, under his leadership, has started an athlete development initiative to kickstart the process of nurturing them to compete at the elite level.
He said: “To the athletes, I say congratulations for your high level of discipline and sportsmanship while showcasing your God-given talents. The sky is the beginning for you young lads.
“With you, the future of Nigerian sports is bright. You have begun a journey that will no doubt catapult you into the spectacular world of elite sports.
“I see future world record holders and Olympic and Paralympic medalists among you. With dedication and commitment, I believe you can achieve this.”
The minister noted that the National Youth Games have continued to be a valuable platform for discovering young talents who have gone on to represent the country in various sports, with many of them champion-winning medallists.
He assured that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to leveraging the socioeconomic potential in the sports sector to realize the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration.
Enoh stated that in addition to providing direct and indirect employment for the host state, Delta, especially in the hospitality and tourism sectors, the National Youth Games was a veritable tool for the promotion of peace and unity in Nigeria.
He praised the government and people of Delta State for their dedication to ensuring the success of the games.
He added: “It is equally important to express my heartfelt gratitude to the governors of all the participating states and the Minister of FCT for sponsoring their contingents to these games, the media, security personnel, and other stakeholders for their dedication and commitment to a successful and seamless tournament.”
The minister also commended Sin Munyal Kwairanga, a 14-year-old athlete who registered on her own and went on to win three gold medals in gymnastics.
Recall that Delta, Lagos, and Edo secured the top three positions in the games with a total score of 111, which included 46 gold, 31 silver, and 34 bronze medals for Delta, 65 medals consisting of 26 gold, 20 silver, and 19 bronze for Lagos, and 59 medals consisting of 18 gold, 13 silver, and 28 bronze for Edo States, respectively.
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