The leadership of the forum of Directors of Sports of the 36 States of the federation, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have paid a familiarisation visit to the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh, and ahead of the 7th National Youth Games (NYG), which will hold in Asaba, Delta State.
 
And to defend their festival title, officials of Delta Sports Commission are giving athletes and coaches of Team Delta the best attention in their various camps located in Asaba, Okpanam and Ogwashi-Uku.
 
The top brass of the State Directors of Sports forum was led on the visit to the Minister by its Chairman and Director of Sports Ebonyi State, Utobo Emmanuel.
 
Emmanuel said the essence of the visit was to officially felicitate with Enoh on his appointment as the Minister of Sports as well as to intimate him on the activities of the forum, whose members form bulk of constituents that makes up the National Council on Sports, in Nigeria.
 
“The forum of Directors of Sports plays a pivotal role in the development of sports in Nigeria through grassroots sports because all the athletes are nurtured from the state, before being turned over to the federations and national teams as elite competitors,” he said.
 
The forum advised the Sports minister to canvass more support and the buy-in of state governors, for more investments in sports development at the grassroots, to complement the efforts of the federal government.

This, they said, can be done if the States and zones are made more functional with all year-round activities. In his response, the Minister promised to grant all sports the attention they deserve, just as he assured that he would converge all stakeholders to a meeting of the Council of Sports in due course to help in modifying and solidifying the nation’s sports policy to be at par with the world’s best standards.
  
Enoh also revealed his intention to meet with the Governor’s forum to solicit their support for sports development and funding.
 
Meanwhile, the Director General of Delta Sports Commission, Chris Anazia, has said that Team Delta is working hard to defend its National Youth Games title.
 
The Youth Games started in Abuja in 2013, but the last five editions took place at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, with Team Delta emerging winners.
 
Speaking with The Guardian, yesterday, Anazia stated that Team Delta athletes are camped in various locations in Asaba, Okpanam and Ogwashi-Uku, adding that the state government is giving them the motivation they need to retain their title.
 
Asaba 2023 National Youth Games will be held at the Stephen Keshi Stadium from September 20 to 30 with over 5,000 athletes and officials confirmed to participate.