Asaba 2023 National Youth Games gets date as inspection of facilities ends

The 2023 National Youth Games, which Delta State is set to host, will hold from for September 7 to 17, the organisers have said.

Speaking at the 7th National Youth Games Joint Technical Meeting in Asaba, yesterday, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Alhaji Abubakar Ismaila, commended Delta State for accepting to host the competition.

The Permanent Secretary, who was represented by Dr. Simon Ebhojaiye, said that the future lies in the hands of the youths for a better country.

Alhaji Ismaila, who is the chairman of the Main Organising Committee (MOC), appealed to states to feature only athletes that fall below 15 years because it is strictly an U-15 competition.

He warned that any erring athlete, irrespective of the state, would be sanctioned.

On the inspected venues for the competition, Ismaila noted that since Delta had hosted the National Sports Festival seven months ago, some of the facilities used would be updated to meet the expected standard.

Earlier, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori affirmed that Delta State government was ever ready to host the games without hitches since it had hosted the National Sports Festival that is bigger than the Youth Games.

The governor, who was represented at the meeting by Chairman, Delta State Sports Commission, Tonobok Okowa, promised to maintain the state’s top position during the competition.

Oborevwori said the state was open to useful advise from the technical committee for the success of the competition.