President Muhammadu Buhari approved N200 million rewards and the National Honor of Officer of the Order of the Niger on Thursday for Team Nigeria delegations traveling to the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the World Athletics Championships.
The President praised the athletes during an awards ceremony held at the State House in Abuja for their “outstanding performances,” noting that their accomplishments had cast a favorable light on Nigeria and brought the attention of the world to Nigeria.
This is according to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, titled ‘President Buhari rewards Commonwealth Games, World Athletics Championships athletes with national honours, N200 million.’
They include gold winners and other medal winners including the world champion in the 100m hurdles, Tobiloba Amusan, Ese Brume, Blessing Oborodudu, Oluwafemiayo Folashade, Taiwo Liadi, Ikechukwu Obichukwu, Bose Omolayo, Favour Ofili, Nasiru Sule, Ifechukwude Ikpeoyi, Ebikewenimo Welson, Hannah Reuben and Elizabeth Oshoba.
The President said his government is committed to rewarding excellence, especially for members of Team Nigeria who sparked the national spirit of winning via outstanding performances at international events, while speaking at a banquet held in their honor.
According to Buhari, the honors will “spur them to greater heights” and that the athletes are “champions, worthy ambassadors, national heroes, and heroines.”
worthy ambassadors, national heroes and heroines, Buhari said the awards will “spur them to greater heights.”
He said ”I watched with millions of Nigerians those exciting moments when you all brought smiles to us and our homes by breaking world, national and games records, as well as achieving personal best in your careers.
“Your outstanding performances in recent times are consistent with the determination of a nation always yearning for excellent performance. You all, members of Team Nigeria have ignited the spirit for victory in our nation but even more you have been victorious in major sporting championships and games.
”I have followed keenly your achievements at the World Championships in Oregon USA and indeed your remarkable performance at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom. And I am very pleased that you displayed at both the personal and group levels great sporting talents and delivered for your country great podium performances.”
The President observed that world stopped 12 times when Nigeria’s flag was raised and the national anthem was sung, the president noted. We reached the top 35 times.
“You all Team Nigeria made that possible. You brought glory and honour to our country. And today, on behalf of the nation- I say, THANK YOU!”
The President expressed satisfaction with the effect the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports’ Adopt-An-Athlete Initiative had on athletes’ performances while reiterating this administration’s commitment to creating the conditions that will allow young people to advance to the top of their chosen professions.
He asked more businesses and private citizens to support the government’s investment in sports, which has been reclassified from a leisure activity to a business in accordance with contemporary standards around the world.
Buhari also praised the significant and consistent victories that have been achieved over the past few years in the sports sector under the leadership of Sunday Dare, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development.
For his part, Dare praised 2022 as a standout year in Nigerian sports history.
In highlighting the most amazing accomplishments, Dare noted that Amusan won Nigeria’s first-ever gold medal in track and field at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, USA, in a period of just 4 months, setting a world record while competing in a highly dominated event by Americans and Europeans.
The Minister stated that she successfully defended her Diamond League title in Zurich, Switzerland on September 8, 2022, and her Commonwealth Games title, which she won in 2018 in Gold Coast, with a games record in Birmingham. This incredible feat has never been accomplished by a Nigerian in the history of our sports.
Dare said that Brume, another pioneer in Nigerian athletics, earned a gold medal in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and a silver medal in the women’s long jump event at the 2022 World Athletics Championships, both with games-record efforts.
”In confirming that the performance was not a fluke, she won a gold medal in the Women’s 68 kg category at the just concluded 2022 Commonwealth Games,” he said.
The Minister praised Oluwafemiayo for continuing Nigeria’s history of being the world’s finest Para Powerlifting nation by winning the gold medal in the women’s heavyweight division and breaking the world record in that division at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics and the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
”Mr. President, through the sporting exploits and excellence of the young athletes before you in this hall and several others not able to make it for this reception, Nigeria has served notice that it will not relent.
”That it will show up and compete for every laurel available not only in sports but in youth development, economic progress, social emancipation, political development and many more,” he said.
He thanked the President, saying ”this administration’s investment in youth and sports development, will continue to yield dividends years after you might have completed your term as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
