President of Nigeria Youth Congress, Dr. Yakubu Shendam, has urged youths in the country to embrace sports and also take their academic pursuits serious.Shendam said the potential of sports as a vehicle for national cohesion and development cannot be over emphasized, adding, “In Nigeria we are blessed with talented youths in the field of sports. However, these youths require a comprehensive sport development programme that will enable them to develop their God given potential to the fullest.”

He praised the national U-23 football team on their performance at the Olympics in Rio, Brazil, adding that the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has made the country proud by winning a bronze medal at the games.“I call on Nigerians to appreciate and support the sports minster and our national team always.

“They should learn from countries like Zimbabwe, who went home from the Olympics with no medal yet they did not lost hope for a next time. Nigerians should learn to appreciate our own always.

“Our national team needs our encouragement for winning the bronze and for making the county proud, football is a game sometimes you win sometimes you lose,” he said.Shendam, who was in Jos in preparation for the forthcoming National Association of Plateau State Students’ annual conference, said the youth should embrace peace as a catalyst of change. He also called on governments at all levels to initiate youth friendly programmes to combat unemployment and reduce suffering of Nigeria youths.