With just two days to the maiden RIYE Under-17 Boxing Circuit, organiser of the initiative, Hon. Tunde Delu, has revealed plans to expand the programme beyond athletics and boxing to other sports where Ogun State has considerable strength.
Hon. Delu explained that the vision behind the RIYE Sports Circuit is to create opportunities for young athletes across different sporting disciplines, helping to identify, develop and nurture talents capable of representing Ogun State and Nigeria at higher levels.
He disclosed that preparations are in top gear for the maiden RIYE U17 Boxing Circuit scheduled for Friday, October 30, 2026, at the Alake Sports Centre, Ijeja, Abeokuta, while plans are also underway to introduce competitions in football, table tennis, chess, scrabble and other sports in subsequent editions.
According to him, the initiative is designed to provide a structured pathway for discovering young talents and ensuring that promising athletes receive the necessary attention to develop their potential.
Hon. Delu, the Senior Special Assistant to the Ogun State Governor on Youth Development , emphasised that the organisers are committed to proper documentation and continuous monitoring of athletes discovered through the circuit, noting that the approach already adopted for athletics would also be extended to boxing and other sports.
“We are not just organising competitions, we are building a system for discovering young talents, documenting their progress and monitoring their development. Those identified through the athletics circuit are being properly documented and monitored, and we intend to apply the same approach to boxing and other sports we introduce.
“Our vision is to create opportunities for young people to showcase their abilities across different sports where Ogun State has strength. Beyond athletics and boxing, we are looking at football, table tennis, chess, scrabble and other disciplines. There is a lot more to come from the RIYE Sports Circuit.”
He added that the long-term objective is to ensure that talents discovered at the grassroots level receive the necessary support and guidance to progress in their sporting careers.
The RIYE Sports Circuit had its first major outing earlier this year with the Under-15 Athletics Circuit, which attracted close to 3,000 young athletes.
The forthcoming boxing event is expected to build on that success by providing young boxers with a platform to showcase their abilities, gain competitive experience and attract the attention of coaches and sports administrators.
The Alake Sports Centre, Ijeja, Abeokuta, is expected to be a beehive of activities on Friday as young boxers, coaches, sports administrators and enthusiasts converge for the event.
The leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC) will be represented by its Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, while other dignitaries are also expected to grace the occasion.
