The Acting Director of High-Performance Center, Sports University of Nigeria, Bob Olukoya, has stated that the vision of the 2023 Scholarship Students/Athletes Trials being organized by the founder of Sports University of Nigeria, Delta State, Senator Ned Nwoko, is aimed at making Nigerian athletes rule the world of sports in the nearest future.
He noted that the Nigerian athletes have everything needed to be the top sports nation on earth if given the necessary support.
Olukoya said this Tuesday during the 2023 Scholarship students/athletes’ trials of the southwest region being held at Ilaji Hotels and Resorts, Ibadan which has over 100 athletes in attendance. Senator Ned Nwoko, Chancellor of the University is awarding scholarships to 100 students/athletes to the tune of N2.5 million across the nation.
He further stated that many benefits come with the scholarship apart from studying at the University, according to him, self-development, opportunity to travel around the world, acquisition of vocational skills, employment opportunities and opportunity to participate in competitions such as the NUGA Games and international meets.
Also speaking, the athletes’ Assessor for the project, Gboyega Makinde, explained that the programme is meant for the selection of athletes for trials for scholarships being offered by the Sports University of Nigeria.
The founder of the University, Senator Ned Nwaoko has established the university to give support to the selected athletes in a bid to give the beneficiaries a future in sports education in the Sport University in a bid to develop sports talents in Nigeria.
He noted that successful athletes selected from the southwest zone will be among the 100 athletes to be selected across geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
He, however, advised the athletes to perform well during the trials in other to be among the successful athletes for the scholarship program.
Also speaking, a former Olympian and national coach who also doubles as the head coach,Taekwondo, the University of Ibadan, Osita John Egwim, explained that the support given by the founder is what they have been soliciting.
He added that with the support given, Nigerian sports will be ruling the world of sport in a very short time.
One of the athletes who play basketball, Joshua Eritobor appreciates the organisers for the opportunity given to the athletes. He said scholarships of such will give opportunity for Nigerian youths to move further in what they do.
He noted that a scholarship of such will give beneficiaries to learn and play the sport they love to do as he prays he is lucky to be among the successfully selected athletes for the scholarship.
Another athlete who plays Softball, Rokibat AbdulAfeez stated that the scholarship if given to her will give her the opportunity to learn more about the sport, adding that she would love to be among the successfully selected athletes just as she described the trials as top notched free of sentiments.
