Organisers of the RIYE Under-15 Athletics Circuit, the Tunde Delu Initiative, have stated that the competition is designed to discover and develop the next generation of athletics talents from across Ogun State.
Speaking at a press conference held in Abeokuta on Saturday to herald the commencement of the championship, the initiator of the event, Hon. Tunde Delu said the competition was conceived as a long-term platform for identifying and nurturing young athletes capable of excelling on the global stage.
“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”.
Hon. Delu noted that Ogun State has a rich history of producing world-class athletes, citing the examples of Falilat Ogunkoya, Gafar Badmus, and Rebecca Enilolobo, who were discovered and nurtured from a young age before going on to achieve success.
He explained that the RIYE U-15 Athletics Circuit seeks to expand the state’s talent pool by providing a platform for hundreds of young athletes to showcase their abilities and compete at a high level.
According to him, about 200 schools across Ogun State have already indicated interest in participating in the maiden edition of the competition.
The championship will feature athletes from the Remo, Ijebu, Yewa and Egba zones, who will compete in zonal qualifiers before the grand finale scheduled for June 26, 2026, at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena, Abeokuta.
Participants will compete in the 100 metres, 200 metres, 400 metres, 800 metres, long jump, high jump and relay events, providing an opportunity for young athletes to display their talents and gain valuable exposure.
The competition will begin with the Egba zonal qualifiers on June 15 at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena, Abeokuta, before moving to Ilaro for the Yewa qualifiers, Sagamu for the Remo qualifiers and Ijebu Ode for the Ijebu qualifiers.
Also speaking at the press conference, Athletes Coordinator, Coach Abayomi Asipa, assured stakeholders that the welfare of participating athletes has been adequately planned for. He noted that comprehensive arrangements have been made to ensure the comfort and safety of the young competitors throughout the championship.
Coach Asipa further disclosed that measures have been put in place to prevent age cheating, while logistics relating to security and other operational requirements have been carefully addressed to guarantee a smooth and credible competition.
Dignitaries present at the press conference included Senior Legislative Aide to the Deputy Senate President, Comrade Oyejide Olasunkanmi, Assistant General Manager, News, OGTV, Mr. Biodun Alabi, Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ogun State chapter, Comrade Michael Azeez Ogunsiji, as well as media practitioners from various organisations.
Bayo Adegboyega,
Director of Media and Communications,
RIYE Under-15 Athletics Circuit.
