Abuja – The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Nigeria said on Tuesday that about 20 African countries would participate in its maiden youth games tagged “Ahmadi Youths All African Games (AYAAG) 2016’’.
Adedokun Abdulakeem, Vice President, Northern Region of Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya Nigeria (MKAN), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Switzerland, UK, Australia and few other European countries had also indicated their interest to participate.
Abdulakeem said that the Games which would be used to celebrate the 100 years of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Nigeria would take place at the Dipo Dina International Stadium, Ijebu-ode, Ogun, from March 17 to March 29.
He said taekwondo, football, volleyball, scrabble, table-tennis, marathon and track events were the seven sports that would feature at the Games open to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in other countries outside Africa.
“It is primarily Ahmadi Youths All African Games but because of the involvement of our supreme head some other countries beyond Africa also want to participate.
“Approval has been given for them to participate and as I speak to you now contingents from UK, Australia, Switzerland and other places will be coming for the Games; so, it’s about the Ahmadi youths.
“We have other programmes that are ongoing just like the Inter-Religious Peace Conference we had in Port Harcourt and tree planting in all the states of the federation which kicked off in January.
“The tree planting will also take place in Abuja after the Games,’’ Abdulakeem said.
He said the games is at the centre of the centenary celebration because it was aimed at enhancing the spirit of brotherhood among various nations through healthy competition in sports.
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Abdulakeem also said that advocacy for new policy directions in terms of youth empowerment and the identification and development of new talents were part of the objectives of the event.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was established in Nigeria in 1916 and exists in over 180 countries around the world. (NAN)
