The CAA U18/20 Athletics Championship in Abeokuta will produce the next top African Super stars - Alake of Egbaland

As hostilities set to take centre stage at the CAA African U18/20 Athletics Championship holding in Abeokuta, Ogun state, the Alake of Egbaland, HRM, Oba Michael Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, has expressed confidence that the next generation of Africa athletics Super Stars will come out of the Championship.

The Alake expressed the strong optimism when the Director General of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Hon Bukola Olopade, the Osi Osoju Oba of Egbaland, led a delegation of the Confederation of African Athletics, CAA, to a courtesy visit to his Royal Highness in his palace in Abeokuta on Tuesday.

The Paramount ruler of the Egba people said Abeokuta as the host city of the junior championship, boost of rich Cultural heritage and history.

" First of all, I want to say i am very happy that our son, Hon Bukola Olopade, is the Director General of everything concerning sports in Nigeria and we are so proud with the work he is doing to develop Nigeria Sports.

" We are also very happy to be staging this championship here in Abeokuta and I am very confident that many of the young talents that are participating in this championship will soon begin to shine all over the world".

" And it might also interest our visitors to know that Abeokuta is the first town to produce a Traditional Ruler to go to Europe in 1904 in the whole of West Africa. We signed a treaty of friendship with the British in 1893 so when the British had the whole of Nigeria as a colony we were not part of it", he said.

The Alake also urge the CAA officials to take full advantage of their presence in the state by ensuring they experience the rich culture and hospitality of Egbaland.

" Before you all leave Abeokuta I want to urge you to visit the first Presidential Library in West Africa - the Olusegun Obasanjo Library.

You should also visit our local market and buy our adire which is our export to the world. In all you do, take something from Abeokuta, that will remind you of your coming", he added.

The President of CAA, Halmad Kalkaba Malboum expressed his great appreciation to his Royal Highest , the Alake of Egbaland and used the medium once again to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for creating the platform and support that enabled Nigeria and Ogun state to host the championship in the shortest possible time after the withdrawal of Algeria, the former host.

The CAA President was accompanied to the visit by the full gamut of his executive board and other top officials of the World Athletics family.

Kola Daniel,

S.A Media,

Office of the Director General of the NSC.

July 16th 2025