In line with the tradition, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Saturday declared the 7th edition of the National Youth Games (MYG) open at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, Delta State’s capital.
President Tinubu who was represented by the minister of sports development, Senator John Owan Enoh, was joined by the host governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and other top government officials of Delta State.
He urged the participating athletes drawn from cross the states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to play by the rules and uphold the tenets of the games as envisioned by its founding fathers.
“The athletes from across Nigeria have come to compete and stay together to be able to understand one another. Our hope is that this National Youth Games will be able to assist the government and the people of Nigeria to continue to live in peace and unity with one another,” Tinubu said.
The president commended the resilience and commitment of the Delta State government in hosting the games after several postponements.
“I thank you again for accepting to host this games. I come in peace and I come with peace, and my greatest hope is that, this games is going to proceed peacefully and at the end of the days, the country and the state of the games will be better for it.”
The event is expected to feature not less than 5,742 athletes from across the federation including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, who will jostle for honours in about 30 sports.