Date: 2021-10-14

Niger State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Ketso has told Niger State contingent to the 6th National Youth Games taking place in Ilorin, Kwara State, that they are the state ambassadors and as such should behave well while in Ilorin.

The Deputy Governor who stated this while bidding farewell to the state contingent at the Government House Minna, on Tuesday, asked the contingent to obey the laws of their host state and rules of the games they would be participating in.

He urged them to develop resilience and courage to win laurels for the state, saying they should not consider taking second or third position in their respective games, but first.

"Maintain the momentum, develop the resilience, follow the guidelines given to you by the Coach, develop the courage to say I am going there to win. Please, as you are leaving Niger State don't think of taking second, don't think of taking third, your thinking should be to take first," Ketso charged the contingent.

He said they should put it at the back of their mind that they were leaving the state not to go and see the city of Ilorin, but to go and discharge their responsibilities as athletes, charging them to go to Ilorin and bring back all the medals they could.

While praying to God to guide and protect the contingent to Ilorin and back to the state, Ahmed Ketso said the entire Nigerlites will be praying for their safety and victory, adding that they will be waiting to receive them when they return.

Earlier the Permanent Secretary of the state ministry of sports development, Yunusa Mohammed Na'auni appreciated the state government under the leadership of Alh. Abubakar Sani Bello for ensuring that the state participate in this year's National Youth Games.

He informed the Deputy Governor that the athletes selected to represent the state possesses the ethical value to represent the state.

Permanent Secretary also disclosed that the state would be participating in 16 events, out of which two are team events, with 54 athletes and 22 coaches and officials.

Similarly, the state director of sports, Alh. Baba Sheshi Katcha in his vote of thanks said they were happy to have the Deputy Governor in the Sports family, haven been elected as an executive board member of the Nigeria Karate Federation.

He also appreciated the present administration for ensuring that the state was not left out in participating in both national and international sports competition since it came on board in 2015, and also commended the deputy Governor for his efforts in facilitating release of the funds for the state to participate in this year's National Youth Games.

The Director also informed the deputy Governor that the athletes were young and within the age limit, promising that they will go to Ilorin and the state proud.