The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable athlete development through structured age-group competitions designed to discover, develop and monitor young talents across the country.
Chairman of the AFN Youth Development Commission, Sule Oluyemi, made this known during an interview at the Yaba Tech Sports Complex, where he described the recently concluded Dynamic Athletics Meet as an important platform for identifying future stars.
Oluyemi, who also serves as a coach of Team Nigeria Athletics, commended the organisers for providing an independent platform where athletes could compete and showcase their abilities.
“It is very impressive. The athletes are still up and doing, and I say kudos to the organisers of this meet,” Oluyemi said.
He explained that the significance of the Dynamic Athletics Meet went beyond competition, particularly because its age-group events provide an avenue for identifying promising athletes early and beginning their development journey.
According to him, the AFN will continue to monitor athletes discovered at such competitions, working with their coaches to track their progress and provide opportunities for regular competition.
“Here we have seen a lot of prospects, a lot of good athletes for the future, and now it is left for the Federation to continue to monitor them as they grow,” he added.
Oluyemi also disclosed that the AFN was implementing a structured age-group development system covering Under-13, Under-15, Under-17 and Under-20 categories.
He said the system would help the federation establish a comprehensive database of athletes from an early age while also addressing the problem of age falsification.
“That way you curb a whole lot of problems that we had before, which includes age falsification and the rest of it,” he said.
The AFN official further urged parents and guardians to see athletics as a viable pathway for both sporting and academic development.
He noted that combining athletics with education could provide talented young Nigerians with access to scholarships and opportunities to study abroad.
“Today athletics is one of the biggest and fastest ways for people to progress in life. If you mix education with athletics, you will find out that the sky is just the starting point,” Oluyemi said.
He revealed that more than 150 Nigerian athletes had secured overseas scholarships within the past three years, describing the development as evidence of the growing opportunities available through athletics.
Oluyemi encouraged parents to support children who demonstrate interest and ability in track and field, stressing that athletics can help young people pursue academic ambitions, build careers and ultimately represent Nigeria on the international stage.
“For me, mixing athletics with education is the best way to go,” he concluded.
