Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi

The National Sports Commission (NSC) is to organise the country's first ever National U-17 Games in 2013, Media Assistant to the Sports Minister, Julius Ogunro, confirmed Thursday.

He said that the festival was aimed at nurturing more grassroots talents for the country’s sports development programmes.

“Next year, we will be hosting the first ever U-17 sports festival. This is one of our developmental programme to ensure that we scout the nation for the best talents possible.

“The objective is to discover athletes at an early age and to groom them thereafter for elite sporting events, such as the Olympics and the all Africa Games,’’ Ogunro said.

He also told NAN that the NSC was currently putting in place mechanisms that will streamline the development of talents that were discovered from the just-concluded 18th National Sports Festival.

“The commission is working with the sports federations on this project and will ensure that the programmes are properly coordinated,’’ Ogunro said.

He stressed the need for a viable Public Private Partnership that would propel the country’s sports to the level it ought to be.

“Hopefully, there will be better funding in the coming year and more partnerships. We will also ensure a faithful implementation of our various programmes,’’ the special assistant added.