NAN-S-20
Games
By Dorcas Jonah
Abuja, Sept. 21, 2016 (NAN) The FCT Minister, Muhammad Bello, on Wednesday in Abuja advised the territory’s contingent to the National Youth Games (NYG) to compete and win with honour and integrity.
Bello gave the advice while addressing Team FCT athletes heading to the Games which would hold from Thursday to Sept. 30 in Ilorin, Kwara.
He said the FCT Administration would not want to be associated with cheats and FCT athletes who are over the age of 17 should not be part of the contingent.
Bello, who was represented by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Babatope Ajakaiye, also advised the athletes to stay away from drugs so as not to destroy their future.
“If they screen you in Ilorin and you are over 17, you will be handed over to the police when you return here.
“So, if you know that you are over 17 and they have hired you, disappear this night before your departure tomorrow (Thursday) morning.
“In the FCT, the minister has told me that we don’t want to cheat. We want to go to Ilorin with the real people.
“This is a Youth Games and we want our youths to develop.
“In the FCT, we want to be factual and real. We don’t want to go with cheats, we don’t want medals at all cost, but we want you to go and win medals,’’ he said.
Bello said the FCT Administration had provided all that was necessary to make the athletes comfortable before, during and after the Games.
He urged them to put in their best to win medals for themselves, the FCT and the country at large.
“You must do all you can to excel. Please don’t go there and take any drugs to win because it will affect you in the long run.
“Go there and do everything naturally, with your strength and the skills that you have been taught to win medals and strive to be the first.
“Our hope is that you will represent this country one day at the Olympics and you will go there and win for yourself and the nation,’’ the minister said.
While reacting to Bello’s address, Team FCT’s athlete leaders, Nwafor Joel and Vivian Okosun, assured that they would aim to win the first position in most of the events.
The duo, who are the male and female captains of the team, said they would achieve this with the skills their coaches have taught them.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 80-man FCT contingent would depart Abuja on Thursday for the Games.(NAN)
(Edited and Controlled by Olawale Alabi)