The first batch of Team Nigeria athletes to the just concluded Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games returned to the country today to a welcome fit for heroes and heroines after their successful outing.
The Commonwealth Games began on July 28 and ended on Sunday in Birmingham, England.
Receiving the athletes and their officials at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, on behalf of the Federal Government, applauded the excellent performance of the team, which led to 35 medals, lifting the country to the seventh position in the final medal table.
The 12 gold medals won in Birmingham are the most ever won by Nigeria at a single Commonwealth Games, making this year’s edition the most successful in the country’s history.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, the minister expressed the joy of the entire country over the athletes’ outstanding achievement.
According to him, the character and discipline exhibited by Team Nigeria in Birmingham as well as the hard work and resources committed by the present administration to sports
added up to make the team excel at the Games.
“We are proud of you. We are also ready to give you all the support needed to make you soar higher and higher,” Dare said.
The minister appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for creating the enabling environment that ensured the realisation of the 2022 Commonwealth Games success.
Dare further thanked the top management and staff of the ministry, the Nigeria Olympic Committee led by Habu Gumel, as well as the coaches and officials for their commitment to the development of sports in the country.
Speaking on behalf of the athletes, two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Tokyo 2020 Olympics silver medallist, Blessing Oborodudu, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for all his support to the team, describing him as the father of sports in Nigeria.
She also appreciated Dare and other top management staff of the ministry, the NOC, as well as the coaches for giving the athletes the much needed support and opportunity to do the nation proud at the Commonwealth Games.
Oborududu noted that the athletes put in their best for the nation because of the enormous encouragement of the federal government and sports-loving Nigerians, pledging that they will continue to do Nigeria proud in subsequent competitions.
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