WE ARE BUILDING A NEW SPORTS CULTURE -OLAYINKA SULEIMAN
FOLUSHO ALADE
We are building a new Sports culture in Nigeria using the YOUTH SPORTS MOVEMENT (YSM), this according to OLAYINKA SULEIMAN the Executive Director of the AFRICA CENTRE FOR YOUTH SPORTS AND DEVELOPMENT (ACYSD) while fielding questions from journalists in Abuja on Monday during the MEDIA LAUNCH of the ABUJA SCHOOL GAMES an INTER-SCHOOL SPORTS FESTIVAL.
SULEIMAN said her organisation is using the YOUTH SPORTS MOVEMENT to drive Youth Sports and Development.
In her words “Our mission is to make youth sports the foundation for the development of Nigeria through sports. We want to use this event to raise the value of youth sports.
“We are looking at the future where there will be more participation of youth in sports.
“We believe youth sports like every other elite sports should enjoy the same kind of attention, organisation and investment”
Speaking further SULEIMAN said the YOUTH SPORTS MOVEMENT is an arm of the AFRICA CENTRE FOR YOUTH SPORTS AND DEVELOPMENT that drives the YOUTH SPORTS DEVELOPMENT.
According to her other arms include the ”POWER UP GIRLS” which is a campaign for equal participation of girls in Sports and also an advocacy working to end the abuse of children in sports especially the girl child.
“Our strategy for youth sports development include the school games through the youth sports movement”
“We also have the power up girls campaign; for the equal participation of girls in sports and advocacy to end child abuse in sports” SULEIMAN said
SULEIMAN said the ABUJA SCHOOL GAMES is a multi-million naira event that that will feature 20 schools and events such as ATHLETICS, BADMINTON, VOLLEYBALL FIVE-A-SIDE FOOTBALL to mention but a few.
“We are starting with 20 schools who had registered to participate in different sports track and field Athletic, Volleyball, Tennis, 5aside, Football Badminton among others” SULEIMAN said.
According to her Communications giants MTN is associating with the games while other corporate bodies are also expected to join the bandwagon in the future.
The YOUTH SPORTS MOVEMENT (YSM) is the sports development unit of the AFRICA CENTRE FOR YOUTH SPORTS AND DEVELOPMENT (ACYSD) with the vision to help create a new Africa where every young person will have equal opportunities to sports development without discrimination.
The one- week ABUJA SCHOOL GAMES event is scheduled for the 3rd of August to 19th of August 2019 at the MOSHOOD ABIOLA NATIONAL STADIUM, Abuja.

