ABEOKUTA, Ogun State – July 17, 2025
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has praised Governor Dapo Abiodun for transforming Ogun State into a vibrant hub for sports development, declaring that the state’s youth will remain grateful for the administration’s commitment to reviving sports infrastructure and hosting international competitions.
Speaking on the opening day of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) U18/U20 Championships held at the newly renovated MKO Abiola International Stadium in Abeokuta, Olopade described the governor’s efforts as historic.
“Look at how Governor Dapo Abiodun has turned around the landscape of sports development in Ogun State by investing in infrastructure across the board. Today, Ogun State is comfortably hosting the entire African continent at an international event,” he said.
Olopade noted that the governor’s vision aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to shift the country’s focus from merely attending global sports events to becoming a destination for international sports production. “This championship is proof that Nigeria can host world-class events and offer opportunities for young athletes to thrive at home,” he added.
The championship, coming just two months after the highly praised Gateway Games 2024, marks another milestone in Ogun’s rising profile as a sporting destination.
Meanwhile, the tournament kicked off with thrilling performances from Africa’s budding talents. Nigeria and defending champions South Africa stood out on Day One, particularly in the 100m heats and triple jump final.
Nigeria’s Praise Ikweki clinched the nation’s first medal at the championship—a bronze in the high jump—after scaling 2.03m on his third attempt. The gold went to South Africa’s Mateo Le Roux.
In the U18 boys’ 100m Heat One, Nigeria’s Igbigbidje James Clifford clocked 11.44s to finish ahead of South Africa’s Mukona Manavhela (11.38s), both qualifying for the semi-finals.
In the U18 girls’ category, Nigeria’s Mariam Jegede stole the spotlight by winning Heat One with a time of 12.13s, followed by Congo’s Boukama Gladys (12.47s) and Ghana’s Darkoah Kwateng (12.64s).
With strong participation from across the continent, the championship has reinforced Ogun State’s emergence as a beacon of sports excellence in Africa.
