By Ben Efe

Lagos State Sports Council chairman, Deji Tinubu has reiterated the need for Nigeria to place emphasis on grassroots sports development as it was the only way to guarantee sporting success in world athletics contests.

Tinubu was speaking ahead of this year’s Top Sprinter athletics meet billed for the Teslim Balogun Stadium this weekend. He said the meet organised by the Making of Champions sports group for two years running,was a step in the right direction in the discovery and grooming of athletics talents.

“There is a need to discover a new group of athletes in Nigeria. Who knows we can even produce a Usain Bolt from the Top Sprinter meet.

“It is a laudable programme by the Making of Champions and that was why we had no problem embracing it. We are looking forward to getting more involved in the programme.”

The meet will feature athletes of all categories and it will be followed by the Lagos relays. Top Nigerian athletes are expected to grace the meet. Deji Aliu and Uchenna Emedolu will run in the Masters category.

Making of Champions promoter, Bambo Akano stated that the initiative was already producing results. He disclosed that athletes like Jeremiah Jakpa and Joy Udo-Gabriel, youth athletes discovered in the course of the programme are enjoying the sponsorship of Arco group for their education and athletics career.

“Our aim is to discover athletes and look for sponsors for them,” Akano.