Young Athletes Shine at RIYE Athletics Circuit

The first edition of the RIYE Under-15 Athletics Circuit showcased young talent at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Kuto, Abeokuta. Athletes from all over Ogun State impressed coaches, talent scouts, and Bukola Olopade, the Director-General of the National Sports Commission.

Organised by the Tunde Delu Initiative, the championship featured finalists from Remo, Ijebu, Yewa, and Egba divisions. This followed zonal qualifiers with over 2,000 athletes from more than 200 schools across the state.

The competition ran from June 15 to June 26 and saw many strong individual performances. Fourteen-year-old Olufunmilayo Kuku from Muslim Girls High School, Ijebu-Ode, stood out in the girls’ events.

Kuku won the girls’ 100 metres, 200 metres, and 4×100 metres relay titles. She set a new personal best time in the sprints, showing she is a promising young sprinter in Ogun State.

In the boys’ category, Sodiq Olaniyi from Luba Comprehensive High School, Ijebu-Ode, was impressive too. He won the 400 metres title in 55.34 seconds and helped his school win the 4×100 metres relay. The boys’ 100 metres title went to Ibrahim Abdul-Ahmed of Tai Solarin Federal University of Education Secondary School, Ijebu-Ode.

The middle-distance races also had remarkable performances. Abigeal Ogunbowale won gold in the girls’ 800 metres with a time of 2 minutes 22.75 seconds. Samuel Adegbuyi also performed well, winning the boys’ 800 metres ahead of Oluwaseun Idowu and Saheed Alebiosu.

The field events were competitive as well. Risikat Kehinde from Ijebu-Mushin School won the girls’ long jump title. Fathia Otubu also excelled, winning the girls’ shot put with a throw of 9.09 metres.

At the grand finale, Olopade praised the Tunde Delu Initiative for creating a platform he said is exactly what Nigerian sports need.

“This is exactly the kind of grassroots initiative Nigerian sports need. When we create opportunities like this for children, we find talents that would otherwise stay hidden. I commend the Tunde Delu Initiative for this vision and encourage more private individuals and organisations to invest in grassroots sports development,” Olopade said.

He is confident that many athletes from the circuit can compete at higher levels soon.

“Many of these young athletes have shown they can represent Ogun State at the National Youth Games and, in the near future, Nigeria on the continental and global stage.

“The National Sports Commission will continue to support initiatives that align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for sports development,” he added.

Tunde Delu, the convener of the championship and Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Youth Development, said the event fulfilled its promise of promoting athletics at the grassroots. He noted that it provided a structured way to find hidden talent.

“Our goal from the start was to take athletics to the grassroots and provide a platform for talented children to be discovered. Looking at what we have seen in the zonal qualifiers and today’s grand finale, I can confidently say we have achieved that goal,” Delu said.

He also mentioned that planning for a second edition is already in progress. They aim to expand the circuit’s reach beyond its current scope.

“This is just the beginning. We are planning a bigger and better second edition that will involve more schools and athletes. Our vision is to make the RIYE Athletics Circuit one of Nigeria’s top talent development platforms, producing athletes who will do well for Ogun State, Nigeria, and internationally,” Delu said.