Former Nigerian women triple jump champion, Rosa Collins has urged all Nigerian athletics enthusiasts to work towards the revival of the sport in the country.

Collins the first Nigerian woman to break the 12m barrier with her jump of 13.80m done in 1995, reasoned that it was important that stakeholders take steps in reinventing athletics, which is near comatose.

“It is time for us to come together and take concrete steps to revive our sport.

“All former athletes, coaches and administrators should bear in mind that it was athletics that either put bread on our table or brought us to limelight. And so we cannot fold our arms and watch athletics die in this country.

“Honestly speaking this is not the time to start apportioning blames. Rather, we need to come together as a family, and bring up ideas about what can be done and then ensure that progress is made.”

Collins who was one of Nigeria’s most flamboyant athletes during her time, argued that there are many athletics talents in the country that are itching to be discovered and therefore, Nigerian athletics administrators must brace up to the challenge and make the sport an attractive option for the Nigerian youth.

“I have gone round the country quite a lot. It pains my heart to see young men and women who are supposed to be nursing a dream in athletics or other sports languishing.

“This is because they do not find sport attractive any more. During our time after competitions; we would be sleeping on our beds and they will call us to come and collect our entitlements. There were camps and motivated coaches who were ready to work.

“This is the kind of development we want to see happen in athletics again,” added Collins.