Nigeria’s Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Delta State Government in respect of the Award of Hosting Rights for the four (4) editions of the National Youth Games (NYG) covering the period, 2023 to 2026.
Sports Minister Sunday Dare, while signing the MoU at the Government House, Asaba stated that awarding the hosting rights to Delta State for the next four years is one of the enduring legacies of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration.
“The MoU signed today, the Ministry has secured the organisation of the youth fiesta for the next 4 years,” Dare stated.
Dare informed that the document signed has been perused and certified okay for signing by both parties and thus, “signing the document by both parties is a critical step that would signpost the commencement of activities for the successful organisation of the first in the series of the Games in September, 2023.”
Responding, the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, stated that Delta State Government agreed to sign the MoU with the Federal Government because it believes in the development of youth right from the grassroots in sports.
He assured that Delta State Government will ensure the successful organisation and hosting of the Games like other sports fiestas it has organised in the past. Governor Okowa called on State Governments in the country to key into the development of the youth, especially in the area of grassroots sports.
“Delta State has been a leading champion in almost all the sporting competitions, we need States to challenge us,” Governor Okowa said.
“Let them get prepared early enough to compete at least for second position because Delta will ever maintain its lead.”
Governor Okowa thanked the Federal Government for giving Delta State the Hosting Rights of the Youth Games for the next four years.
