By Anastasia Agunwa :
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved National Honours of Officer of The Order of The Niger and cash awards of N200m for Team Nigeria’s contingents to the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the World Athletics Championships.
At an award ceremony held on Thursday, at the State House, Abuja, the President congratulated the athletes for their “outstanding performances” saying their hour of sporting glory beamed the ‘‘radar of the world on Nigeria’’, adding that their exploits projected the positive image of the country.
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 and record holder in the 100m hurdles, Tobi Amusan, Ese Brume, Blessing Oborodudu, Oluwafemiayo Folashade, Taiwo Liadi, Ikechukwu Obichukwu, Bose Omolayo, Favour Ofili, Nasiru Sule, Ifechukwude Ikpeoyi, Ebikewenimo Welson, Hannah Rueben and Elizabeth Oshoba.
Speaking at a presidential reception in honour of the athletes, the President said his government was committed to rewarding excellence.
Describing the athletes as champions, worthy ambassadors, national heroes and heroines, Buhari said the awards will “spur them to greater heights.
The President noted that 12 times the world stood still as Nigeria’s flag was hoisted and the National Anthem recited, 35 times we made it to the podium.
He urged more private individuals and corporate organisations to support the government’s investment in sports, which has been reclassified from recreational activity to business, in line with modern practices worldwide.
Buhari also acknowledged the strides witnessed in the sports sector under the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, and his team, commending the numerous and sustained successes recorded in the last few years.
On his part, Dare described 2022 as an outstanding year in the history of Nigerian sports.
Highlighting the most remarkable feats, Dare said in track and field, Amusan in a span of four months won Nigeria’s first ever gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, USA with a world record performance in an event highly dominated by Americans and Europeans.
He said Amusan successfully defended her Commonwealth Games title, which she won in 2018 in Gold Coast, with a Games record in 2022 in Birmingham; and Diamond League title in Zurich, Switzerland on September 8.
The minister added that this remarkable performance had never been achieved by any Nigerian in the history of the country’s sports.
Dare further disclosed that Brume, another trailblazer in Nigerian sports, won silver medal in the Women’s Long Jump event at the 2022 World Athletics Championships and a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham with a Games record performance.
Describing Nigeria as the best Para Powerlifting nation in the world, the minister hailed Oluwafemiayo for keeping with the tradition of winning gold in the women’s heavyweight category, setting a new world record in that class at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics and the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
