President Muhammadu Buhari has conferred National Honour and okayed a cash prize of N200 million to athletes who represented Nigeria at the recently concluded 2022 Commonwealth Games and World Athletic Championships in Birmingham.
The President announced this Thursday in Abuja while speaking at a presidential reception in honour of the athletes.
Team Nigeria which won a total of 35 medals where hosted at the state house in Abuja by the president and duly compensated for their doggedness at the global event that saw the country’s flag hoisted 12 times for the world to see.
Buhari notably celebrated Nigeria’s world champion Tobiloba Amusan; Ese Brume, Blessing Oborodudu, Folashade Oluwafemiayo, Taiwo Liadi, Ikechukwu Obichukwu, Bose Omolayo, Favour Ofili, Nasiru Sule, Ifechukwude Ikpeoyi, Ebikewenimo Welson, Hannah Reuben, Elizabeth Oshoba for their gold medals at the commonwealth.
I welcomed Team Nigeria, our heroes and heroines of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, to the State House today. I have approved the conferment of National Honours on them, in addition to Cash Awards totaling N200 Million. We are proud of them! pic.twitter.com/tny1BDbmq1
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) September 15, 2022
”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,” he said in a statement issued by his spokesman, Femi Adesina.
The President expressed satisfaction with the impact the Adopt-An-Athlete Initiative of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports had on the performance of athletes.
He urged more private individuals and corporate organisations to support government’s investment in sports, which had been reclassified from being a recreational activity to being a business in line with modern practices worldwide.
