The Minister for Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare has charged states across the nation to imbibe the Delta Model in a bid to enhance the development of grassroots sports in the country.
Chief Dare gave the charge in Asaba when he undertook an inspection tour of the Steven Keshi International Stadium, Asaba to ascertain the level of the states preparedness to host the 2022 National Sports Festival.
The Minister who was conducted round the facilities by the Chairman of the State Sports Commission and President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, Chief Tonobok Okowa  said Delta remained the leader in Nigerian sports and the model it had been working with had helped it maintain that lead over the years.
He said that other states that had imbibed the model have also reaped the fruits saying states like Lagos, Kwara, Kano and Edo had emulated the Sports Commission model introduced by Delta State and the result had been heart warming over the years.
Chief Dare also enjoined states to invest more in the sports sector stressing that such investments will always bear fruits as athletes who get more support tend to excel in their sports.
According to him Delta States investments over the years was evident in the quality of athletes it had produced saying the need to enhance the development of sports at the grassroots was not only to discover budding talents but to give them the platform to be showcased to the international community.
The Minister had inspected to level of work done in the new Indoor Sports Hall, at the Steven Keshi International Stadium, Asaba where he expressed confidence in the states ability to deliver the facility before the commencement of the Games in November.
He also visited the Old Indoor Sports Hall at the Steven Keshi International stadium as well as the main-bowl and the Event Center which is expected to host Table Tennis Event and most of the combat sports including Boxing.

The Kasarani Stadium, Nairobi is hosting athletes from over 200 countries for the championship which begins today with the final of the 4×400m mixed relay event with Team Nigeria fielding Bamidele Ajayi, Johnson Chidira (men), Oke Opeyemi, and Ofili Favour (women) in the race, this will run till August 22.

Team Nigeria will begin its chase for medals this morning with the duo of Godson Brume and Ashe Oghenetejiri Favour joining the contest for qualification tickets in the men’s 100m event.

In the women’s 100m event, Team Nigeria’s duo of Tima Godbless and Ofoku Praise will contest for qualification to the next round.

Also today, U.S.-based Nigerian junior sprinter, Dubem Amena, and Bamidele Ajayi, will compete in the 400m heat event for men, just as Oke Opeyemi and Imaobong Nse Uko will race for qualification tickets in the women’s category.

AFN President, Tonobok Okowa, said “We are hoping for medal hauls in this competition, the athletes are in high spirit ahead of the opening ceremony.”

Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mr Sunday Dare has charged the newly elected board of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria to be focused and remain above board in the discharge of their responsibilities.

The Minister gave the charge on Tuesday in Abuja when he Inaugurated the newly elected board led by Chief Tonobok Okowa.

In his words , ” This is indeed a new dawn for Track and Field in Nigeria as exemplified by the way you conducted your elections strictly in accordance with the 2017 constitution of your Federation as recommended by both World Athletics and the Confederation of African Athletics. This shows a new seed of hope has germinated to replace some of the rotten seeds sowed some four years ago. You must avoid the pitfall of the past and follow not just the constitution of the AFN, but also work within the laws of our sovereign country, Nigeria”.

The Minister assured that the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development will continue to support the newly elected executive to take the AFN to greater height.

Chief Tonobok Okowa in his acceptance speech, thanked the Ministry, while reiterating his commitment to make the welfare of Athletes, Coaches and officials as priority as well as to unite the Federation devoid of sentiment.

Signed

Media office of the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development

The Chairman of Delta State Sports Commission (DSSC), Hon. Tonobok Okowa has been alleged to have sponsored delegates who voted at the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) North Central Zonal Representative election on Friday.

It was gathered that Hon. Tonobok Okowa bankrolled the trips of the six delegates ((Nasarawa, Kwara, Benue, Plateau, Niger and FCT) to the venue of the election and the various Commissioners of Sports, Director of Sports as well as the Athletics Association Chairmen were all taken care off by Okowa.

Okowa volunteered to sponsor all the delegates who came for the election including the Fatimah Yusuf-Olukoju OLY.

The Zonal Coordinator, employed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Saka Kaseem allegedly orchestrated the electoral fraud and worked for Okowa in the North Central election.

Haruna Manta from Niger state eventually won the election into the AFN North Central board, winning by 6 votes to 1 against Fatimah Yusuf-Olukoju OLY.

Efforts to reach Haruna Manta, Fatimah Yusuf-Olukoju OLY and Hon. Tonobok Okowa all proved abortive.