As the CAA African U18/20 Athletics Championship begins in Abeokuta, Ogun state, the Alake of Egbaland, HRM Oba Michael Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, expresses confidence that the next super stars of Africa athletics will emerge out of the Championships.
The Alake expressed the strong optimism when the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon Bukola Olopade, the Osi Osoju Oba of Egbaland, led a delegation of the Confederation of African Athletics, CAA, The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to a courtesy visit to his Royal Highness in his palace in Abeokuta.
The Paramount ruler of the Egba people said Abeokuta as the host city of the junior championship, boost of rich Cultural heritage and history.
” First of all, I want to say i am very happy that our son, Hon Bukola Olopade, is the Director General of sports in Nigeria and we are so proud with the work he is doing to develop Nigeria Sports.
“We are also very happy to be staging this championship here in Abeokuta and I am very confident that many of the young talents that are participating in this championship will soon begin to shine all over the world.
“And it might also interest our visitors to know that Abeokuta is the first town to produce a Traditional Ruler to go to Europe in 1904 in the whole of West Africa. We signed a treaty of friendship with the British in 1893 so when the British had the whole of Nigeria as a colony we were not part of it”, he said.
The Alake also urge the CAA officials to take full advantage of their presence in the state by ensuring they experience the rich culture and hospitality of Egbaland.
“Before you all leave Abeokuta I want to urge you to visit the first Presidential Library in West Africa – the Olusegun Obasanjo Library.
“You should also visit our local market and buy our adire which is our export to the world. In all you do, take something from Abeokuta, that will remind you of your coming”, he added.
