The technical director of Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Samuel Onikeku has hailed Richard Agbonifo Hand2Hand Athletics Championship for 15-year-old boys and girls and under, described it as a right approach that will produce many Marry Onyalis Ese Brumes and Tobi Amusans for the country.
He made the observation while declaring the inaugural edition of the championship open during the weekend at the training pitch of Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
Onikkeku commended the founder and CEO Richard Agbonifo Hand2Hand Foundation, Richard Agbonifo, for the initiative, saying the Athletic Federation of Nigeria is grateful to the Germany-based philanthropist for investing in development of Nigeria’s athletics.
“I want to say a big thank you to Mr Richard Agbonifo for bringing this kind of programme to Nigeria’s athletics. It is the right steps that will help produce more Mary Onyalis, Ese Brumes and Tobi Amusans for Nigeria.
“So, on behalf of the AFN, I formally declare this event open. I pray for injury free competition and we hope to discover athletes that will represent Nigeria in future from this event,” Onikeku said.
The one day event which athletes from various schools, academies and athletic clubs within the FCT and environ had participants competed in 60m, 80m, 100m, 200m and 400m race.
Speaking to newsmen on the sideline of the event, sponsor and CEO
Richard Agbonifo Hand2Hand Foundation, a Non-governmental Organisation based in Germany, Mr Richard Agbonifo, said the one-day athletics meeting is targeted toward eliminating streek hawking and child-labour in Nigeria.
“Our main target is to fight against hawking and child-labour in this country. I know hawking is part of our system, children are going round hawking many things during school hours or after school, no.
“Children should be children, go out there and have fun. I know it is not easy because things are hard in this country but the government should step in and say children should be children, and change the policies that have to do with our education and sports,” Agbonifo said.
He appealed to Nigerians to support the initiative, saying the foundation has received immense support from Germany.
“This foundation is based in Germany and what we are doing here is from the donations received from Germany. These sports kits that we are going out to children come from Germany. The support we are getting from different professional clubs and companies in Germany is immense and I’m really surprised that the Germans are saying let us help kids in Nigeria. I just hope that we Nigerians who are seeing what is coming from Germany will also make efforts and say let’s help our kids.”
