Ambassador Lt.General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Rtd) and former Chief of Army Staff has implored all Nigerian youths to channel their energy positively and avoid atmosphere of despondency, as they have so much things to be done as the future of the country belong to them and the stating point is now.
Ambassador Lt.General Buratai (Rtd) said this today 27 May, 2023 at the maiden edition of the Mini-Meet Skating Competition to coincide with Children's day organised by the Skating Federation of Nigeria in partnership with Organisation of Military Sport in Africa (OSMA) in Abuja.
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The former Chief of Army Staff who was the Special Guest of Honour (SGON) was ably represented by Brigadier-General SK Usman (rtd), mni a former Director Army Public Relations noted that Youths cannot build a nation, or have a brighter future in the atmosphere of despondency.
"We have the talent, we have the capacity, try and discover those positive aspect about you and Channel your energy towards that", he added.
He commended the organizers for creating the competition which will not only improve physical fitness and socialization among youths but discovery of talents and athletics that will represent Nigeria in International skating competitions.
He thanked the competitors for exercising team spirit of sportsmanship, "I am very impressed and its highly commendable. I also commended the parents who allowed their children to take part in the yoga aspect of the skating competition. "I marvel the young lady that could close 1 kilometer under 6 minutes. Nigeria is full of is full of talent".
He called on the government to encourage skiting and support it in anyway possible so that it will be on a global map in terms of skiting in this world.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after presenting medals to winners, President of Organisation of Military Sport in Africa (OSMA), Major General Abdullahi Maikano said the reason why OSMA is partnering with Skating Federation of Nigeria is to actualize the Skating Federation of Nigeria and to come into board with other federations.
He noted that the competition is the maiden edition and by December 2023, there will ne a National Skating Competition where about 37 States including FCT will be participating.
"We intended to organise only Children in Abuja but to my great surprise and to my happiness almost about 13 States participated in this Championship. That means its a prelude to what is going to happen in December," he said.
In her word, the Secretary General of the Skating Federation of Nigeria, Mrs Awele Helen Illoh who pioneer Roller sports federation of Nigeria, a registered sports body, affiliated to FIRS and UFOARS since 2002 and finally affiliated the sport to the world in 2012 said, she had taken Nigeria on severral skating events, African Championship especially where Nigerian athletes had won medals, "13 medals was won by Nigerian skaters two years ago at Cotonou 2021 in Benin Republic.
"The future of Nigeria Skaters is very bright because our prayer have been answered because God blessed us with OSMA President and Military who is partnering is giving us hope and my heart is so full of joy", she said.
Highlighting the Skating Competition, the technical Chairman of the Skating Federation of Nigeria, Mr Mali Flash explained that the Federation had a Road Circuit of 21.5 Kilometers marathon race and skaters were expected to cover the distance called a Road Circuit.
SpyeTV News reports that, at the end of the Marathon Race, Men Category (Senior), OMOTAYO GIDEON came 1st position, YUSUF ASHIRU came 2nd position, OKEY JOSEPH ITUNU came 3rd position, GODSTIME CYRIL came 4th position, MURTALA HASSAN came 5th position.
Marathon Race, LADIES Category (Senior), LUCY MOSES came 1st position, MANDY EKAYEM came 2nd position, ROSEA TONZE SAYI came 3rd position, MARYAM MUBARAK came 4th position.
Marathon Race, Boys Category (Junior), 1st position goes to YAHUZA GARBA, ABUBAKAR SALIHU came 2nd position, YUSUF MAHMOUD came 3rd position.
Marathon Race, Girls Category (Junior), MARYASH ISMAIL came 1st position, KHADIJA ISMAIL came 2nd position, CHELSEA EMERUHA came 3rd position.
Also Long Jump Finalists are ALYASSDU USMAN ABUBAKAR came 1st position, MURTALA HASSAN came 2nd position, AYOMIDE ALIYU came 3rd position, and Ramp Jump winners are, ISMAIL ABDUL RAUF came 1st position, YAHAYA BELLO came 2nd position, AMINU HARUNA came 3rd position.
The Youngest Participants are from Allied country (Asian), they are Muhammad MUHAMMAD AHMAD YANUSI, FATIMA LADAN AND ADVIK CONDROLLI.
Dignitaries at the event were the representative of Ambassador Lt.General Buratai (Rtd) the Special Guest of Honour, Brigadier-General SK Usman (rtd), mni, Representative of General Lucky Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier General Kila Deputy Director of Sport DHQ, Chief of Logistics, Air Vice Marshal Paul Masiyer, Representative of Chief of Air Staff, Air Commodore Magnus Abanum, Senior Officers from the Military, Police and Paramilitary.
- SpyeTV News
