The Ogun State Government says it will continue to encourage and nurture youths to discover talent of sportsmanship, fasten potentials and improve their wellbeing at tender age.

Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Dr. Oluwadare Kehinde revealed this during an opening ceremony of the 2021 Edition of Gateway Tertiary Institution Games (GATIC), tagged, “Sports for Healthy Development”, at Oba Alake Stadium, Ijeja, Abeokuta.

While reiterating his Ministry’s commitment to youth empowerment and engagement, which would enable students in tertiary institutions across the State to be physically and mentally fit, Kehinde said this would also boost their cognitive skills, assuring that the Games would be sustained.

Earlier in her address, the Director, Ogun State Sport Council, Mrs. Iyabo Rotimi appreciated the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun for his support over the years, saying the agency was intensifying effort to raise youth players that would represent the State at various sporting event.

On his part, a former Director of Sports in the Council, Prince Tunji Onatolu, said, sport is crucial to students’ growths and development, adding that games were capable of improving people’s abilities and wished all the participating schools best in the various activities lined up for the event.

          In their responses, participating students from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye and Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Saapade, Ijebu-Igbo, Samson Ajayi and Habeedat Ogunsanya respectively, commended the State government for creating avenue for youths to display their talents and bringing out the best in them, adding that their involvement in the games would reduce stress and increases confidence among them.