Asia’s fastest man, Femi Ogunode, said he is committed to developing Nigerian athletes at the grassroots.
Ogunode, who represents Qatar, recently
organised the Athletics Challenge at the Sports Complex of the Federal
University of Technology Akure, through his foundation, as a platform
for discovering and grooming young athletes.
He told journalists that he was glad to
give back to Nigeria and urged other Nigeria-born athletes representing
other countries to do same.
Ogunode said, “I believe in giving back
to people. While I was growing up, I saw how we, young athletes,
suffered to make headway in athletics. Nobody gave us a chance to
showcase our talents.
“Last year, I thought within myself that
it was time to give back to the society, especially focusing on young
athletes, as it seems that the body in charge of athletics here in
Nigeria has better things to do than develop the sport at the grassroots
level. So I decided that if I start this foundation, I will be helping
athletics at the grassroots level.”
Ogunode
praised that athletes that participated in the event and said they have
the potential of shining on the world stage for Nigeria if training
camps are organise for them.
Francis Obikwelu and Gloria Alozie, who
dumped Nigeria for Portugal and Spain respectively, are also involved in
an athletics development programme in Nigeria – Top Sprinter Genesis.
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