August 10, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government gave a hero’s welcome to the first group of Team Nigeria athletes on Wednesday, upon their return from the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Sunday Dare, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, welcomed the athletes and their representatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and praised them for their excellent performance, which resulted in 35 medals and moved the nation up to seventh place on the Games’ honours list.
Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, who spoke to the athletes on behalf of Dare, expressed the nation’s happiness at their exceptional accomplishment, which was the best in the country’s history at the Games. He said: “We are proud of you. We are also ready to give you all the support needed to make you soar higher and higher.”
The two-time Commonwealth gold medalist and Tokyo 2020 silver medalist, Blessing Oborodudu, praised President Muhammadu Buhari for his support of the Team and referred to him as the father of sports in modern Nigeria in her remarks on behalf of the athletes. She also expressed gratitude to their coaches, the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Dare, Abubakar, and other senior Ministry officials.
Tobi Amusan, Nigeria’s world record holder and Commonwealth Games winner and Ese Brume, the long jump gold medalist, were not on the team in Abuja because they had returned to their base in the United States, as preparations for the next stage of the prestigious Diamond League gets underway. Thursday will see the arrival of the final group of Team Nigerians from Birmingham.
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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
