President Muhammadu Buhari has promised a grand reception for Team Nigeria’s athletes to the just-concluded Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, when they return to the country.
Nigeria recorded an unprecedented performance, winning 12 gold, nine silver and 14 bronze medals to end as the seventh best team at the competition and also achieve its best ever performance at the Games.
Speaking to the team ahead of their departure for Nigeria, yesterday, Youth and Sports Development Minister, Sunday Dare, said a grateful country is planning a grand reception for them, adding that President Buhari is waiting to fete them.
Dare, who described this year’s performance as excellent, inspirational, phenomenal, commendable and commanding, noted that the impressive outing earned Team Nigeria number seven position on the medals table, and also the best ranked African country in the Games.
Earlier in a congratulatory message, Buhari told the athletes that he joined millions of other sports loving Nigerians to watch some of the colourful and spectacular moments, which resulted in the harvest of 35 medals.
The president praised Nigerian women for being at the forefront of bringing honour to the country. He added: “it is noteworthy that majority of the medals, including 12 gold for the country, were championed by our talented young women and girls.
They include multimedalist Tobi Amusan (100m Women’s Hurdle and 4x100m Relay), Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma, Grace Nwokocha (4x100m Relay); Miesinnei Mercy Genesis (50 kg), Blessing Oborududu (57 kg) and Odunayo Adekuoroye (57kg) in Women’s Freestyle wrestling; as well as Adijat Adenike Olarinoye (55kg) and Rafiatu Folashade Lawal (59kg) in Women’s weightlifting.”
He also mentioned other gold medallists, including Folashade Oluwafemiayo, Women’s heavyweight Para Powerlifting, Eucharia Iyiazi, Women’s shot put, Chioma Onyekwere and Goodness Nwachukwu in Women’s Discus throw, and Ese Brume, long jump.
He also lauded the leadership and top management staff of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, coaching crew and team officials, for the passion towards ensuring the development of sports in the country.
He assured that history would remember them for all their contributions in making athletes shine in the international arena.
The 11-day Commonwealth Games had over 5,000 athletes, representing 72 nations and territories in 280 medals events.
MEANWHILE, Team Nigeria athletes and their officials could return to the country to a shower of dollars from a grateful country, as some sports lovers have started promising to reward them for making the country proud.
One of such sports enthusiasts is Group Chief Executive of Oando Plc, Wale Tinubu, who has announced that his company will give cash rewards to all Team Nigeria medallists at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Tinubu promised to match the rewards already given to the athletes by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development for each medal won at the Games. At the Games, the Sports Ministry gave each gold medallist $5, 000, silver medallist $3, 000 and bronze medallists $2, 000.

BY JERRY APELEOKHAI