The 8th National Youth Games (NYG) officially kicked off yesterday at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s formal declaration of the event. Represented by Minister of Sports Development Senator John Owan Enoh, President Tinubu praised the NYG as a beacon of hope for Nigerian sports.

“Now is the perfect time for this National Youth Games, especially after our participation in the Paris Olympics and Paralympics. While our Paralympic athletes excelled, we must re-strategize to improve Nigeria’s sports performance,” Tinubu stated. He emphasized the importance of addressing issues like age falsification to ensure a better future for Nigerian sports.

Delta State, hosting the NYG for the second consecutive year, was acknowledged by Tinubu for its significant role in sports development. Governor Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori highlighted the Games as a chance to discover new talent and improve Nigeria’s performance on the global stage.

“This is an opportunity to uncover young athletes who can replace the aging ones and to break old records,” Oborevwori said. He expressed pride in Delta’s role as a sports hub and its partnership with the Federal Ministry of Sports to enhance Nigeria’s sporting future.