ABEOKUTA – The maiden edition of the RIYE Under-15 Athletics Championship in Ogun State produced a wave of emerging stars and impressive performances, as several young athletes announced themselves on the big stage with record-breaking displays and dominant performances.
Leading the charge were 14-year-old Olufunmilayo Kuku of Muslim Girls High School, Ijebu-Ode, and 13-year-old Sodiq Olaniyi of Luba Comprehensive High School, Ijebu-Ode, who emerged as the standout performers at the championship held inside the MKO Abiola Sports Arena, Kuto, Abeokuta on Friday.
Kuku stamped her authority on the girls’ track events by clinching three gold medals in the 100 metres, 200 metres and the 100 metres relay, setting an improved personal best in the sprint finals to underline her status as one of Ogun State’s brightest emerging athletics talents.
Her outstanding performance earned her cash prizes totaling N150,000, while runners-up and third-place finishers received N30,000 and N20,000 respectively.
An elated Kuku credited her coaches for her remarkable outing, noting that her performances had already attracted the attention of notable sports stakeholders and talent scouts present at the championship.
On the boys’ side, Sodiq Olaniyi delivered a stellar performance by winning gold medals in both the 400 metres and the 400 metres relay events.
The 13-year-old sensation clocked an impressive 55.34 seconds to win the fiercely contested 400 metres final, finishing ahead of Haruna Abdul-Basit (55.63secs) and Adisa Lasisi (56.65secs).
Expressing surprise at his achievement, Sodiq attributed his success to the technical guidance of his coach, whose preparations proved decisive in his victorious campaign. Like Kuku, he also went home with N100,000 in prize money for his exploits.
Another rising star, 14-year-old Ibrahim Abdul-Ahmed of Tai Solarin Federal University of Education Secondary School, Ijebu-Ode, captured the boys’ 100 metres title and received a N50,000 cash reward presented by the Ogun State Director of Sports, Seyi Sonde.
The championship also produced remarkable performances in middle-distance and field events. Abigeal Ogunbowale claimed the girls’ 800 metres title with a winning time of 2:22.75, ahead of Faridat Oluokun (2:27.94) and Soliat Taiwo (2:29.45). In the boys’ category, Samuel Adegbuyi crossed the finish line first in 2:02.68, while Oluwaseun Idowu and Saheed Alebiosu finished second and third respectively.
In the field events, Risikat Kehinde of Ijebu-Mushin School emerged champion in the girls’ long jump event, with Great Edevede of Simawa High School and Adeola Fasasi of Batoro High School taking second and third places. Fathia Otubu also impressed in the girls’ shot put, recording a winning throw of 9.09 metres to defeat Endurance Egbamuno, who settled for silver with 8.63 metres.
Speaking after the successful conclusion of the championship, the organiser and Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Youth Development, Hon. Tunde Delu, expressed satisfaction with the quality of talents discovered across the four sports divisions of Remo, Ijebu, Egba and Yewa (RIYE).
According to Delu, the championship achieved its primary objective of discovering and nurturing grassroots talents, while plans are already underway to expand the competition in subsequent editions.
“From next year, we are looking forward to discovering more talents and accommodating more athletes to express themselves because it is good for Ogun State and the country,” he said.
Delu revealed that several athletes had already attracted the interest of talent scouts and coaches, adding that the long-term vision is to institutionalise the RIYE Athletics Circuit into junior, intermediate and elite competitions capable of attracting athletes from across Nigeria and beyond.
Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, commended the initiative, describing the championship as a fertile ground for discovering athletes capable of representing Ogun State at the next National Youth Games in Delta State and future national competitions.
He reaffirmed the NSC’s commitment to supporting grassroots sports development initiatives that align with the sports development objectives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
