![[FILE] Nigerian athletes during a track event. The AIU is demanding answers from the AFN over age discrepancies in four Nigerian athletes set to compete in the World U20 Championships.](http://covid19.guardian.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Nigeria-Relay-Team-1024x570-1.jpg)
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has expressed its support for the inaugural South West Athletics Conference, set to hold today and tomorrow in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
AFN President, Tonobok Okowa, commended the region’s leadership for initiating the conference and encouraged other regions to follow suit.
To facilitate the event’s smooth organisation, the AFN has donated N1 million to the organizing committee. The Organising Committee’s Secretary, Enefiok Udo-Obong, highlighted the conference’s objectives, saying one key aim is to elevate athletics activities in the South West region.
Recognising the region’s historical success in producing national athletes, the conference aims to rejuvenate talent development. Over the past three years, the South West zone has been a hub for athletics competitions in Nigeria and the conference seeks to create a programme that will foster enthusiasm for the sport and nurture local talent.
The organisers said that experts in sports and athletics will collaborate to devise strategies for harnessing the abundant potential in the region, adding that through the conference, the zone will develop a blueprint for athletic development, which will accelerate the growth of the sport.
“All stakeholders are invited to participate in the brain-storming sessions during the two-day event, hosted by the Ogun State Athletics Association under Chief Gbenga Abijo’s leadership,” Udo-Obong said.
