‘Sports A Panacea For Youth Development’

A former handball player,
Olajide Fashikun said sports was a major factor in youth development and therefore needed to be given good attention.
Fashikun said this while delivering a paper titled “Sports for Development and Peace” at the celebration of the 2016 International Day of Sports for Development and Peace.
He said sports was a viable tool to get the young ones attracted to their communities, while positive peer relationships were encouraged through coaching as well as physical activities.
“Getting the youths involved in sports can boost their self-esteem when they enjoy the experience,” he said.
Fashikun, who is currently the managing Editor of an online media outfit, gongnews, said sports helped in youths’ social development by gaining life-long skills and improving their education.
He said the sports for development programme could become a powerful tool for development and learning.
The former handballer further said sports promotes o rules, discipline, health promotion, non-violence, tolerance, gender equality and teamwork.
He said these were all issues very visible in the poor communities of Nigeria.
“I encourage us to look at sports through a different angle.
“Sports is an effective instrument that can help improve the quality and development of our children , families and the nation in general”, Fashikun said.