By Goodluck Ikiebe
The Nigerian Government has rewarded Team Nigeria Athletes, who won medals at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and their coaches with $25,000 cash.
The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, while making the presentation to the Athletes and Coaches at Hilton Garden, Birmingham, on Thursday, stated that the reward was one of the proactive measures put in place by the Ministry and President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration in particular, to boost their morale.
Represented by the Director, Federations, Elites and Athletes Department of the Ministry (FEAD) and Chef De Mission, Dr Simon Ebhojiaye, Dare said that the athletes and coaches were being rewarded for bringing glory to their fatherland.
He assured of government’s continued commitment to the development of sports in Nigeria.
This in addition he said, was one of the reasons for the establishment of ParaSports Department in the Ministry to further provide an opportinity for people with disabilities to also strive and excel in the field of sports.
The Minister expressed optimism that with the calibre of Athletes, Coaches, Officials and Technical crew Nigeria is having in Birmingham and their level of commitment and patriotism, the country is no doubt set to record more podium performances at the games.
He urged them to remain focused, determined and more committed so as to ensure that Nigeria remains among the topmost countries in the committee of Sports.
Speaking earlier, the 59kg Women’s Weightlifting Gold medalist, Folashade Lawal, on behalf of the medalists and coaches expressed their appreciation over government’s proactiveness, assuring that the reward will spur the athletes into winning more medals for the country.
She attributed the successes recorded so far to the glory of God, team work, discipline, hard work as well as government support to sports development in the country.
At the ceremony, the gold medal winners, Adijat Adenike
Olarinoye and Rafiatu Folashade Lawal, received $5,000 each, silver medalist, Taiwo Laidi got $3,000; bronze medallists Edidiong by Umaofia and Islamiyat Yusuf got $2,000 while their coaches were also given $3,000 respectively.
Meanwhile, as earlier predicted in Para-Athletics at the on-going 2022 Commonwealth Games holding in Birmingham, it was a medal rain for Nigeria as its Team clinched 5 medals; 2 gold, 2 silver and a bronze thereby placing the country high on the medals table.
Nwachukwu Chiemerie kickstarted the gold performances when she broke a new record that earned her a Gold medal in Discus.
As the games continued, Folashade Oluwafemiayo and Bose Omolayo completely dominated the field, breaking this year’s Commonwealth Games with every lift until Oluwafemiayo broke another World Record with her last lift thus clinching the second gold for Nigeria while Bose Omolayo rounded it off with a Silver
Team Nigeria further recorded another feat with Obichukwu Ikechukwu winning a Silver medal in the men’s heavyweight category while Nnamdi Innocent’s lift of 132.5kg in the Men’s lightweight won a bronze medal for the country.
