The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, has indicated it will soon produce a Special Brochure for all young athletes discovered under its Talent-Hunt-Programme so as to document their feat for posterity.
A statement by Director of Press and Public Relations quoted the Minister Sunday Dare to have made the disclosure wednesday in his office in Abuja while receiving Miss Adeela Adedeji, Nigeria’s 8-year-old Silver Medalist at the just concluded African Gymnastics Championships in Pretoria, South Africa alongside her sibling and parents.
According to him, the brochure which will serve as a one stop shop for young Nigerian athletes discovered through his administration’s Talent-Hunt-Initiative, would also ensure that their names are written in gold as a mark of government’s recognition of their performance.
He gave the assurance that the young Gymnast who has automatically become a member of the administration’s Talent- Hunt-Programme would also enjoy the benefits given to other budding talents, like scholarships and sponsorship to competitions for enhanced development, among others.
Dare added, “you won Silver but there’s gold in you, alongside your parents and coaches, we will work assiduously to bring out that Gold”.
Dare stated further that most great nations discover talents from their younger ages and then monitor, as well as nurture them to bring greater glory to their nations.
“Suddenly, we have seen that the country has potentials, not just in football but also in other sports, with Gymnastics now taking centre stage”, the Minister said.
The Minister, while restating government’s commitment to the development of grassroot sports, commended the resilience of Adeela’s parents and coaches in ensuring her development thus far in the field of Gymnastics, promising that the Ministry will henceforth follow her up in her future competitions.
Speaking on behalf of the young Kwara State born Gymnast, her father, Arc. Yomi Adedeji, thanked the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare and President Muhammadu Buhari in particular, for their commitment to the development of grassroot sports.
While pleading for Federal Government’s support towards the development of Gymnastics at the grassroot, he assured that as a parent, he will continue to invest in Adeela’s talent in order to ensure that she continues to do the nation proud.