The National Council on Sports has given the nod to the University of Ilorin injunction with the Kwara State Government to host the annual National Youth Games for two years.

The Council gave the approval in a communiqué issued at the end of its meeting held in Calabar and signed by the Minister of Sports and Chairman, National Council on Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung.

The annual National Youth Games will hold from the August 24th to September 11 this year in Ilorin.

Athletes under the age of 16 from the 36 states and FCT will participate in 22 sports, with cricket featuring as demonstration sports.

The Council also fixed the 19th National Sports Festival for the November 8-21, this year in Calabar.

It appealed to the Sports Minister to visit all State Governors and make presentation at the Governors` Forum on the need to adequately fund sporting activities and their contingents to the annual National Youth Games and the National Sports Festival.

The Kwara State delegation was led by the representative of the State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, including the State Director of Sports, Coach Tunde Kazeem.