Countdown
The IAAF / Nestlé Kids’ Athletics programme in partnership with the support of its partner Nestlé Healthy Kids, will get underway with demonstration events in Ikeja, Nigeria on Wednesday 25 July. The maiden event will be flagged-off by the Honourable Nigerian Minister of Youth and Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi at the Opebi Model Primary School.
The activation of the youth athletics programme marks a crucial step forward for kids’ sports development in the country following a five-year global partnership between Nestlé and IAAF in January 2012.
Speaking on the partnership, Managing Director and Chief Executive, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Dharnesh Gordhon, said the company’s support for the programme complements its Healthy Kids Global Programme.
The IAAF / Nestlé Kids’ Athletics programme will be implemented in Nigeria through the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN). “AFN has been promoting and developing athletics in the schools community in Nigeria as a fundamental discipline within the sports and physical education curriculum and means of social integration.
The IAAF aims to popularize athletics in six areas through a programme of several competitions called ‘A Team Event for Children’, which comprises of three event groups: sprinting/running event group, jumping event group and a throwing event group.
“The programme targets three age categories: 7-8 years, 9-10 years and 11-12 years. To implement the programme in Nigeria, IAAF will train Kids Athletics lectures, coaches and introduce Primary school pupils to Kids Athletics programme,” said Gordhon.
Nestlé
