The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, has assured that the ministry is set to produce a new generation of athletes, who will rule the world of athletics soonest.
Speaking at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja where he received the U-20 athletics team, which came third at the just concluded World Athletics Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, he said: “These young athletes have done the country proud. They have not only made a statement of intent to rule the world, but have made it emphatically clear that we are rebuilding a new generation of athletes.
“These young ones are brilliant stars and the country will embrace, support, nurture and unleash them to the world at the Paris 2024 Olympics and several other up-coming championships.
“Yesterday, Mr. President congratulated them heartily for the feat they achieved as the third best team at the championships amongst 116 countries. When you look at the history of this championships in the last 13 years, this is the first time we have attained this feat.”
He stated further: “The Usain Bolts of this world emerged from this championships. So, we are going to keep these young ones together. We see a better future, a new trajectory for athletics in our country. We will nurture them and the future is bright for athletics in our country.”
At a reception organised for the athletes attended by the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen; Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar-Farouk; Minister of State for Education, Chief Emeka Nwajiuba and Special Assistant to the President on Sports, Daniel Amokachi, Umar-Farouk said the athletes had made Nigeria proud, promising to key them into the programmes of her ministry.