Government to host Flying Eagles, Falcons, others after elections

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has promised a befitting reception for new African Under-20 football champions, Flying Eagles, as well as the national women football team, Super Falcons and Nigeria’s youth athletes, who recently won the African Youth Athletics Championship in Ethiopia.

The Flying Eagles on Sunday defeated hosts, Senegal, by a lone goal to win their seventh African Youth Championship title.

Speaking during an interactive meeting with Nigerian youths in Lagos on Sunday, Jonathan described the Flying Eagles’ victory as an example of what the country’s youths could do when given the enabling environment, saying his government would continue to empower the youths in their businesses, sports and other areas of interest.

“A father must expect his children to be better than him. We must work hard and encourage the young people,” he said. Jonathan promised that in the next four years, if given the mandate, he would continue to build on the gains of the last four years and improve the lot of young Nigerians.

He revealed that his administration has just sworn in one of the country’s youngest ministers and will give the young people more of such appointments, adding that Nigeria must prepare for its future by investing in young people