No fewer than 400 male and female athletes will compete for honours at the maiden edition of the Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed U-17 Badminton Championships in Ilorin.
The championship opens on January 27.
The sponsor of the competition, Dr. Abdulfatai Olokoba, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Ilorin.
Olokoba, who is also the Chief Medical Director of the Ilorin General Hospital, said the aim was to further develop the racket game in the state.
He said that the state had the potential to make history in the game.
The sponsor said athletes would be drawn from all the 16 local government areas of the state for the three-day event.
According to him, the closing ceremony would hold on January 29 at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Kwara Stadium Complex, venue of the event.
Olokoba disclosed that prizes would also be given to deserving participants at the closing ceremony.