As Delta State hosts the seventh National Youth Games
By Professor Emmanuel Ojememe
The previously postponed seventh edition of the National Youth Games (NYG) has become a reality as it takes off in Asaba, Delta State from the 21st to the 30th of September, 2023. The event was to take place immediately after the National Sports Festival which also took place in the state in December, 2022 The Delta state government, the host and sponsor of the games, jointly organized with Federal Ministry of Sports Development are most highly commended for ensuring that the youths of Nigeria from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are provided with the opportunity to express or showcase their sports talents for their ultimate benefits and that of the Nigerian Nation. The importance or significance of the youth games should be very clear or easy to comprehend. It remains vital however, that the nation must sharply keep the mission of the youth games in focus so as to sustain the efforts in its organisation.
The youth games provide a framework for productive engagements of the youth in competitive sports. Furthermore it:
1. Brings the youths of Nigeria to congregate, or converge, socialize and know each other more in a playful environment. Hence, the social and national integration objectives of the games cannot be underestimated.
The bones of friendship cultivated through the games could be lifelong.
2. Provides a veritable framework for talent discovery and hence, a source of sustenance of athletes development of future champions.
3. It is a tool for youth empowerment hence the use of sports as a vehicle for enabling those who embrace it to find meaning and purpose in their lives.
4. Could be a means of enhancing youth employment and amelioration of criminality.
5. Could be a means of inculcating positive social values and ethical conduct as well as competitiveness which are attributes required for successful living.
6. Provides international athletes who also could become champions in their sports disciplines just as they promote Nigeria’s image and boost international relations.
7. Carries the banner of sports as an economic tool and entrepreneurship.
Youth sports competitions of the National Youth Game dimension, inevitably is a tool for nation building. It is also a national resource reservoir which could have utility value for the nation. This however, would not happen on its own without necessary intervention which include but not limited to:
1. Adequate identification and profiling of the youth in their various sports.
There must be strict adherence to the prescribed age range for the youth games.
2. Effective profiling of identified talents using established standards.
3. Documentation of the athlete’s data for planning, programme development and implementations.
4. Providing sustainable facilities and welfare for athletes and officials who are taken through a structured nurturing programme.
5. Institutionalization of the indices for measuring progress.
6. Creating a system that enables the athlete to productively develop themselves while doing sports and combining same with their education or vocational training, vertically and horizontally.
There must also be provision of equivalent facilitatory athletic infrastructure and organizational system with those abroad to limit diasporan osmotic migration of athletes abroad to achieve their objectives or actualize their potentials. Let us endeavor to do it here at home.
7. Regular evaluation of progress as well as achievements of set goals and standards.
8. Provision of legal instruments to institutionalize sustainability of sports development programmes and practices including the youth games.
The National Youth Games must be driven by policy document which serves as the organic framework for its systematic prosecution. Nigeria can lead in global sports if she gets it right with the youth games.
Nigeria Let’s Go!!
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Professor Emmanuel Ojememe, sent in this piece. You can reach him via successojeme@yahoo.com
