By Femi Atolagbe

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Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa has assured of its total commitment to the successful hosting of the National Youth Games.

 Okowa stated this during the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and Delta State Government on Tuesday in Asaba.

Okowa said Delta will host the National Youth Games for the next four years urging other States to wake up in sports youth development.

He praised the Sports Minister, Mr Sunday Dare for striving hard for the development of sports in the country.

He said, “Delta has a strong relationship with the Sports Ministry. The Minister, Sunday Dare did not sit in Abuja but was always out there working for sports development.

“We are happy to host the national youth games for next year. We will host a youth games the nation will be proud of.

“I challenge other States to prepare their athletes and give Delta real competition. It’s through competition you break records.

“Delta will strive to retain its number one position always and other states can scramble for who comes second.”

Earlier, Nigeria’s Sports Minister, Sunday Dare said the National Youth Games is open only to athletes under 17 years, emphasising the importance of the Games in Nigeria’s sports development.

He applauded Delta State’s commitment to sports saying, “Check the data for the last 40 years, Delta State has contributed a lot to sports development in Nigeria.

“As a minister, Delta has been instrumental to the success I enjoyed in the last Four years of my administration.

”Signing the MoU you can be rest assured that we are going to experience a new dimension to the National Youth Games for the next four years.”