As a result of the premium it attaches to talent development by
accepting to host the second edition of the National Youth Games, the
University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Kwara State is losing nothing less than
N50 million which would have been generated from accommodation rates
charged students that attend its sandwich programmes at the institution.
This was disclosed by the Director of Sports UNILORIN, Professor Olawole
Obiyemi, while commenting on the level of preparation of the
institution about the game.
He explained that the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor
Abdulganiyu Ambali, who is a sports lover and a believer in the
development of the youth has always emphasized that what the country
needs most at this time is the development of its youth as a precursor
of a brighter future.
“We would have generated about N50m from sandwich students who pay
N15,000 each for accommodation, but because we want the National Youth
Games to get the best, we asked them to seek accommodation elsewhere.
The importance of the National Youth Games was made our priority as we
are now making our accommodation available to over 4,000 athletes and
officials free of charge,” he said.
He said that the Vice Chancellor has since the beginning of the year
commenced preparations towards its success, which involved series of
meetings and signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the
Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.
“The Vice Chancellor is a sports loving man. In February, he delegated
four professors to attend a meeting of the National Council of Sports in
Tinapa,” he added.
On the preparations of the institution to host the Games, he said
everything has been put in place to ensure a successful and memorable
second edition.
