The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, have offered to sponsor D’Tigress player, Nkem Akaraiwe, surgery in Dubai, The Punch report.
The sports ministry made this known on Tuesday after meeting the player at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja.
D’Tigress power forward and 2018 League Most Valuable Player Akaraiwe injured her knee at the 2019 African Beach Games.
She missed the entire 2019/20 season because the Nigeria Basketball Federation and sports ministry couldn’t foot the bill for her surgery.
While announcing its readiness to sponsor the basketball player, the FMYSD tweeted, “Today (Tuesday), Akaraiwe, who broke her ACL while on national duty, got a gift of $10,000 from Okowa, facilitated by the sports minister, Sunday Dare.
“The FMYSD will provide another $20,000 to get her the surgery in Dubai. Akaraiwe could not contain herself as she shed tears of joy. The presentation was done at the Physiotherapy Area of the Medical Centre in Package B, at the MKO Abiola Stadium.”
Reacting, the NBBF commended the sports minister and Okowa for assisting the player.
“Thanks to basketball fans and the media who made it possible for Akaraiwe to receive the deserved attention after her injury while playing for Nigeria at the Beach Games earlier this year. Thanks to Okowa and Dare,” the federation added.
