Lagos’ Gains from NYG Beyond Winning Medals, Says Aiyepeku

When the Federal Government of Nigeria through the then Ministry of Youth and Sports Development conceived the idea of the National Youth Games, it was designed to focus on the development of young talents that the nation would begin to use in replacing the ageing athletes.

However, some states through official overzealousness feature overaged athletes in a bid to win laurels.

“In Lagos, we are mindful of the objective of the National Youth Games and we do adhere strictly to the rules of the games. We see the Games as a developmental based platform than competition based,” said Executive Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Sola Aiyepeku, while speaking with the media at the venue of swimming events at the ongoing 7th National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State.

Aiyepeku reiterated that Lagos State’s focus in catch them young, and this has been given the state value added gains  from the organisation of the youth games.

“For Lagos, National Youth Games has been helping us. After every edition, we always count our blessings as we used to get new pool of talents. For example, at the end of last edition, it on record that we got 40 percent fresh talents.

“We have been using the youth games to try out talent. It is unfortunate for those states featuring overage athletes in the National Youth Games. They are not helping the children, but destroying the athletes, and also inflicting injury to the nation’s sports development.

“The National Youth Games is not about winning gold medals, but for the athletes  to enjoy sports at this level,” Aiyepeku said.