Oyedeji  canvasses  mentorship for  budding athletes from National Youth Games

September 2, 2025 by Tunde Liadi

Former D’Tigers captain and NBA star, Olumide Oyedeji, has hailed the ongoing 9th National Youth Games in Asaba, describing it as a platform capable of shaping the future of Nigerian sports.

Speaking with NationSport, Oyedeji expressed delight at the level of participation and enthusiasm displayed by athletes from across the country.

 “So far so good, I am very happy and excited to see that the National Youth Games is in full swing. I must give kudos to all the states that are participating in this edition,” he said.

The ex-NBA star, however, stressed the importance of complementing competitions with mentorship programmes that would prepare athletes for life beyond sports.

 “I would have loved a situation where we are having the competition maybe in January where there would also be a day off for mentorship of the athletes. It goes beyond just sports. Opportunities like that could prepare them for life after sports and help them take the step that will take sports to the next level,” he noted.

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Oyedeji, who admitted to feeling a bit envious of the opportunities available to today’s budding athletes, said his excitement stemmed from the fact that they now have the chance he never enjoyed. “I kind of get a little bit jealous because when I was young, I never had this kind of opportunity. That is why I am excited and happy for them that they have the opportunity that will get them ready for the future,” he added.

He also challenged the National Sports Commission to build on the model provided by the Games to further empower young athletes. “I want to implore the National Sports Commission to use this model to motivate the young athletes and empower them and make them know that to be superstars, you must work hard to achieve that,” he advised.

Beyond the Youth Games, Oyedeji called for the revival of secondary school sports and the improvement of sports infrastructure nationwide.

 “Besides this, we need to get back to secondary school sports. We need to work on our sports infrastructure,” he concluded.

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