Ilorin – The Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, on Friday in Ilorin charged Nigerian youths to fully utilise sports’ advantages to develop themselves physically and economically.

Abdullahi, who was represented by Caleb Gidado, a Director in the National Sports Commission (NSC), gave the charge at the finals of the North-Central Zone U-15 Badminton Championships.

Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi

“The Federal Government will continue to provide an enabling environment for Nigerians to exhibit their talents, especially in the area of sports,’’ the minister who is also the NSC chairman said.

Also speaking, the Kwara Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Hajia Ramat Adesina-Abaya, charged athletes to shun doping as it could ruin their career.

In his own speech, the state Director of Sports, Tunde Kazeem, praised the NSC for organising the championship, which was aimed at developing talents at the grassroots.

He then called for such attention to be given to other sports.

Kazeem said the All-Secondary Schools Volleyball Competition would hold in November in Ilorin while the Omolewa Ahmed Table Tennis tournament would come up in October.

Titiloye and Zainab Alabi respectively emerged champions of the boys singles and girls singles events at the badminton championships.

Titiloye beat Moses Babalola in two straight sets to emerge the boys singles champion, while Alabi defeated Teniola Babalola also in two straight sets to emerge the girls singles champion.

The boys doubles event was won by the pair of Taiye and Kehinde Adebayo, while Alabi paired with Teniola Babalola to win the girls doubles event.

NAN reports that more than 90 players from Kwara, Benue, Niger and Kogi participated in the three-day championship held at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Kwara State Stadium.(NAN)