Again, UNILORIN to host 7th National Youth Games

For the sixth consecutive time, the University of Ilorin will again play hosts to athletes and sports officials from across the country for the 7th National Youth Games. UNILORIN had previously hosted the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th editions of the games at its ultra-modern Stadium Complex in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021 respectively.

The Director of Grassroots Sports Development in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Patrick Okeke, disclosed this last Tuesday (September 13, 2022) when he visited the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sulyman Age Abdulkareem, in his office.

While presenting a letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ismaila Abubakar, to the Vice Chancellor, Mr. Okeke noted that over the years, “the University of Ilorin has been a consistent partner of the Ministry in the development of our youth-based sports competition – the Nationals Youth Games. The partnership culminated in the signing of a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2017, which is expected to elapse in 2022”.

Mr. Okeke noted that “due to some misinterpretations of the relevant sections of the MoU, certain decisions were made for which the Ministry highly regrets its outcome on the institution. Having been properly guided, I wish to state that the Ministry is committed to this MoU and is desirous of adhering to its terms by organising the 2022 edition of the Games at the University of Ilorin“.

It will be recalled that on October 11, 2017, the University of Ilorin and the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sport Development signed an MoU to stage the games in the University for five years following the successes recorded in the previous editions hosted by the institution.

Speaking further, Mr. Okeke announced the Ministry’s plan to host this year’s edition of the games between December 7 and December 17 considering the lost time and to give the institution ample time to prepare. He told the Vice Chancellor that the Ministry will be looking forward to the confirmation of the date by the University.

The Grassroots Sports Director commended the University of Ilorin for being an amazing host, having hosted the last five editions of the games impressively.

Responding, the Vice Chancellor, who was represented by the University Librarian, Prof. Abdulwahab Issa, appealed to the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, to redeem the Ministry’s pledge to construct an Olympic-size swimming pool for the University.

Prof. Abdulkareem told the Director of Grassroots Sports Development that the University is in a transition period, and assured that the incoming Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, SAN, would support the games.

The Vice Chancellor was joined during the visit by the Chairman of UNILORIN Sport Council, Prof. Omodele Eletta; the Acting Director of Sport, Dr. Tajudeen Ibraheem; the immediate past Chairman of UNILORIN Sport Council, Prof. Gafar Ijaiya; and the Senior Assistant Registrar, Sport Unit, Mr. Hafiz Abdulraheem; while Mr. Emmanuel Okere, who is the Secretary of the Youth Games accompanied the Director of Grassroots Sports Development.