The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, has assured that Nigeria is ready and willing to work closely with the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) in the development of the next generation of athletes for the continent.
 
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the Congress of the CAA at Conference Hotel in Abeokuta, the venue of the third CAA U-18/U-20 Championships, yesterday, Olopade explained that the National Sports Commission (NSC) has put a dynamic and proactive machinery in place to develop athletics in Nigeria and by extension the continent.
 
Those in attendance at the Congress were the president, Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), Hamad Kalkaba Malboum, president, Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Tonobok Okowa, CAA Vice presidents, Bruno Konga, Derartu Tulu, Jackson Kiprono Tuwei, Amara Khaled, Zakhele Dlamini, and the president of the Asian Athletics Association (AAA), General Dahlan Jumaan Al-Hamad, as well as heads of delegations of all the participating countries and other key athletics stakeholders in Africa.
 
“Even before I was named as the NSC DG, I have been managing the biggest marathon event in Africa, the Lagos City Marathon… that underscores my interest and passion for athletics,” Olopade, a former Commissioner for Sports in Ogun State, said.
 
To buttress the interest of Ogun State and the country’s love and willingness to do more for athletics and the CAA, Olopade stated that the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, Nigeria’s former president, Olusegun Obasanjo and other top dignitaries, as well as captains of industry, will be meeting with the leadership of the continental athletics body.
 
The chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the CAA U-18/U-20 Championships, added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is fully committed to giving the African youth a platform and a voice to excel in sport.
  
Earlier in his welcome address, the president of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Okowa, reaffirmed that Ogun State and Nigeria are fully prepared to deliver a memorable championships.
 
“It’s indeed an honour to have athletes, officials, and the media present for this Championship. This gathering offers us the opportunity to examine the journey so far and peer into the future with great hope and optimism,” Okowa, who is president of CAA Region 2, said.
  
”Youth in our continent will in the next four days showcase their God-endowed talents and we hope that more talents will be discovered and developed towards competing in future competitions such as the African Championships in Athletics, World Athletics Championships, Commonwealth Games, and Olympic Games.”
 
Over 700 athletes will participate in the age-grade competition, which will take place from July 16 to 20, 2025.