Aghazu Advocates for Grassroots Athletics Development in Nigeria

Akuchukwu Aghazu, the Vice President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, has urged state governments to invest more in grassroots athletics development. She emphasized the necessity of organizing regular competitions to nurture emerging talent across the country.

Aghazu stated that sustaining local meets would provide athletes with a consistent competitive environment, which is essential for improving performance at the elite level. She noted that Nigeria's long-term success in track and field relies on a strong domestic structure.

Aghazu explained that regular state-level competitions would allow athletes to sharpen their skills in sprinting, jumping, and throwing, thereby expanding the talent pool available for national selection. She argued that with proper planning and coordination, achieving these goals across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory would not be difficult.

Aghazu also stressed the importance of collaboration with the private sector, indicating that corporate organizations could significantly support sports development. She remarked on the success of Nigerian athletes at the World Relay Championship in Botswana, attributing it to a strong administrative support system.