RIYE U-15 Athletics Championship Set To Uncover Ogun’s Next Generation of Champions – Delu

ABEOKUTA – Organisers of the maiden RIYE U-15 Athletics Championship have unveiled an ambitious grassroots athletics programme aimed at discovering, nurturing and developing the next generation of champions from Ogun State and beyond.

Speaking at a press conference heralding the championship, the initiator of the competition, Tunde Delu, described the event as the culmination of a long-held vision to establish a structured talent identification and development pathway for young athletes under the age of 15.

According to Delu, the championship is designed not only to discover talents but also to create a sustainable platform that will continue producing champions for decades.

“This is about a vision I have had for some time, and we are trying to make that vision a reality.

“We believe we can do better by creating a competition that brings together young athletes under the age of 15 in a highly competitive environment and institutionalising it so that it continues producing champions for the next 10, 20, 30 and even 40 years.”

Drawing from his years of involvement in youth athletics development, Delu noted that Ogun State has consistently produced exceptional athletes who were identified at a young age.

He cited athletes such as Gafar Badmus, Falilat Ogunkoya, and Rebecca Enilolobo as examples of talents discovered in their early teenage years.

He explained that the RIYE U-15 Championship seeks to broaden the talent pool by creating opportunities for hundreds of young athletes to compete and showcase their abilities.

According to him, approximately 200 schools across Ogun State have indicated interest in participating in the competition.

The schools cut across the four political zones of Ogun State which formed RIYE; Remo, Ijebu, Yewa and Egba divisions.

He added that, private athletics clubs and individual athletes have also expressed interest in taking part.

“Imagine the number of athletes we are going to see during the qualifiers and at the grand finale.

“Instead of discovering one athlete here and another there, this competition gives us the opportunity to bring the best talents together and monitor their development closely.”

Delu stressed that participation alone is a mark of achievement, noting that every athlete representing a school has already emerged as one of the best in their institution.

“Before any athlete gets the opportunity to represent their school, they must have been champions in their own schools,” he explained.

“If an athlete does not make the podium here, it does not mean they are not talented. Athletics is a sport where you do not win all the time.”

He added that athletes who fail to secure medals should remain focused on improving through training and commitment.

“Coming here means you are already among the best in your school. Success is about consistency, hard work and returning stronger. With dedication and proper training, these athletes can still reach the highest levels of the sport,” he said.

To ensure fairness and credibility, Delu revealed that organisers have put in place strict measures to verify the ages of participating athletes.

He disclosed that all participants will be required to present four key documents, including their birth certificate, National Identification Number (NIN), Learner Identification Number (LIN), and school identity card.

“We have lined up several measures to check the issue of age limits. By requiring these documents, we can ascertain that athletes are truly within the age bracket they claim to be,” he said.

Adding glamour to the event, Delu said organisers will host a celebrity sprint challenge featuring 16 notable personalities competing in both the 100 metres and 200 metres races.

According to Delu, the winner of the celebrity race will receive a cash prize of N1 million.

However, the prize money will not be retained personally by the winner but will instead be dedicated to a charitable cause of the winner’s choice.

“The idea is to use sports as a platform to promote social impact and encourage giving back to society,” he explained.

Delu also underscored the importance of media support in achieving the objectives of the championship.

He said greater publicity would help parents, schools and communities understand the immense opportunities available through sports.

“Many parents do not fully understand the power of sports and what it can do for their children and families,” he said.

“The media serves as the bridge between us and the public, helping people understand the value of athletics and encouraging greater participation.”

The event coordinator, Coach Abayomi Ashipa noted that the championship is expected to serve as a feeder system for state, national and international competitions.

He stressed that, organisers are targeting the identification of between 15 and 20 elite athletes who can progress to national youth championships and eventually represent Nigeria at international events, including future African Youth Games.

“Our goal is to produce athletes who can become national youth champions and earn places in Nigeria’s youth athletics teams within the next few years,” he stated.

He added that the competition will also feature an extensive reward package aimed at encouraging excellence among participants.

He disclosed that, educational and training grants will be awarded to outstanding performers, with cash rewards of N50,000, N30,000 and N20,000 respectively for top finishers.

He submitted that, the grants will be transferred directly to parents to support the educational and athletic development of the athletes.

The maiden RIYE U-15 Athletics Championship is expected to attract hundreds of young athletes from across Ogun State, with organisers hopeful that it will become a major platform for grassroots talent discovery and the development of future national and international champions.