Ahmed said this in Ilorin, the state capital, when flagging off the "Let's Play" programme organised for children by Supersport in collaboration with an Ilorin-based non-governmental organisation, Omoluabi Foundation.

He said the Kwara Football Academy would be upgraded and its facilities expanded to encourage children's participation in soccer.

He said: "We want to see the best of talents and give the necessary and needed support.

"You have a sporting governor and the Minister of Sports is from here.

"We are ready to assist you to get to the desired place."

The governor urged children to embrace sports, adding that government would provide the necessary atmosphere for them to excel.

He also solicited the support of stakeholders to develop sports in the state.

Ahmed commended the organisers of the Let's Play programme and assured them that his administration would promote efforts that would boost the development of talents in the state.

Earlier, the Minister of Sports and Chairman, National Sports Commission, Bolaji Abdullahi, urged children to take to sports, adding: "Sport is life."

He implored the children to embrace exercise and take their education seriously for the development of the nation.

Hajia Rahmat Adeshina-Abaya, the Kwara State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, expressed happiness on the success of the programme, which she described as the first of its kind in the state.

In her address, the Executive Director, Omoluabi Foundation, Hajia Funsho Abdullahi, said the programme was organised to encourage children between the ages of eight and 13 to take to sports.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that 1,000 children, who participated in the programme, went home with kits comprising a T-Shirt and football each.