The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, says the National Sports Festival (NSF) remains the platform for discovering and grooming Nigerian athletes to world standard.

Dare said this on Monday in Benin at the ongoing 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) holding in Edo.

The minister who commended the high level of competition at the games said Nigeria is blessed with a lot of talents which can be groomed to world beaters.

“We have seen a lot of talents on display in the last 10 days in various events, including Wrestling which is one of our best medal hopes at the Olympics.

” I have seen a lot of athletes with great future in wrestling and I am excited with what I have seen in all the centres I had visited since I arrived Benin,” he said.

Dare, however, charged the athletes to remain disciplined and be professional so that they can move to the next level in their budding careers.

He stressed the need for all states to maintain the spirit of sportsmanship throughout the competition, as the competition was also meant to foster unity in the country.

“The future is very bright for our young athletes but they must always maintain the spirit of sportsmanship during and after the games,” he said.

Dare said the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development would continue to partner sports’ federations to initiate national sports programmes that will groom and develop athletes, aside the NSF.

He, however, stressed the need for the various federations to think outside the box and partner with the private sector in running some of their competitions and training.

The sports minister expressed optimism that Nigeria would soon be back to its position as world beaters in sports.

Newsmen report that the NSF which started on April 2 will end on April 14.

TodayNG