NYG: Ministry To Use Passport For Screening

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Sunday Dare has said that the ministry would partner with Nigeria Immigration Service to check age cheating at the next edition of National Youth Games (NYG).
He stated that athletes will produce international passport, national identity and birth certificate during screening before they can participate.
Hon. Dare who was represented by the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Olusade Olusola said this at the closing ceremony of the fifth edition of NYG, on Monday, in Ilorin, Kwara, State.
According to him, the ministry will support University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) to build some sporting facilities to accommodate more sports at next edition of the competition.
“In next edition the ministry will partner with Immigration to check age cheating. We will use international passport, national identity card number and birth certificate to evaluate the ages.
30 athletes were discovered in the previous edition and they were representing the country in various sports in international competitions “ Hon. Dare said.
He further revealed that the hosting right of the NYG in Ilorin has been extended to 2025.
“ Next edition we are going to add more sports. We are also aware that the continuous increase of athletes and sporting events has overstretched the sports facilities of UNILORIN and Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports development will assist in providing some sports facilities “ he stated.
At the end of the competition Delta State emerged winners with a total of 104 medals,while Lagos came second with 72 medals as  Bayelsa State came third with a total of 45 medals.  However, Team Rivers who arrived the competition venue five days wrote its name on the medal table with one gold, four silver and one bronze medals and occupied 18th position.

Tonye Orabere, in Ilorin