ILORIN – 12-year-old Latifat Ahmed has been granted scholarship for her secondary education after she won the 100 meters gold in the ongoing Kwara State All Primary Schools Athletics Championship.
Latifat who is in primary 6 in Arsarul Islam primary school igbo-owu, Ifelodun Local Government Area will be sponsored by the “Let’s go Girls fund” project initiated by some active and retired sports women in Nigeria.
The scholarship will see her through her secondary education and she would be kitted and supported by the ‘Let’s go girls fund during the period.
Speaking at the grassroots event at the Illorin township stadium, Executive Project Manager of the Let’s Go Girls fund Mr Olajide Fashikun noted that Latifat will be among the benefactors of the project together with other young girls to be discovered in future athletics competitions.
Fashikun explained that the fund was also initiated to provide insurance cover for amature athletics that will participate in any national competition to protect them from injury and death.
Mr Fashikun further explained that Let’s go girls fund was established by former Olympians Mary Onyali, Chioma Ajunwa, Funke Osunaike, Ruth Ogbifo Balofin and commonwealth games medalist Blessing Okagbare to support female athletes in Nigeria.
Mary Oyali who was present at the event said the objective of the Lets go girls fund was to encourage all female athletics in the country to succeed in their career and pledged the fund’s continuous support to ensure the grooming of future women world-beaters.
Adeoye Iyanuoluwa form Irepodun LGA won two gold medals in the 100 meters boys final and High Jump.
Other events decided yesterday include the girls Long Jump and Javelin.
Incumbent vice president of the athletics federation of Nigeria Hon Olamide George who presented the cash prizes to winners praised the young ones for their resilient display.
While commending the sponsor of the competition Alhaji Tunde Abdulkareem, Hon Olamide George urged private individuals to key into the catch them young initiative as this will go a long way to grow the sporting sector in the country.
Cash price of 10,000 naira was given to winners of the gold medal, Silver medalists took home 5 thousand Naira while Bronze winners are entitled to 2,500 naira.
Many pupils also won different food items and house hold utensils like bags of rice, cartoons of indomie, generator set, standing fans etc though raffle draw.
Action continues today with the mixed relays, egg and needle race competition, sack race and parents/spectators 2 kilometers working race with a cash prize of 50 thousand naira for the winner.
