Ogun State Government has rewarded its outstanding young athletes who won medals at the recently concluded 8th National Youth Games in Asaba, the Delta State capital with instant cash prizes.
The State Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Wasiu Isiaka who presented the instant cash prizes to the medalists, said the reward was not just to encourage them to do more, but to also aimed at inspiring them to excel at international competitions and tournaments representing Nigeria as a country
Hon. Isiaka assured the athletes of government’s readiness to nurture them to enviable heights, attributing the successes recorded during the games to the current administration's resolve to develop sports at the grassroots.
The Commissioner who appreciated the young athletes for their services to the state, expressed the readiness of the State to make good use of the exposure gained at the games to groom the budding talents discovered and nuture them to stardom become better athletes to represent the state and the country at other national and international competitions.
“I am highly impressed with the results and performances of these young athletes, and as you are all aware, it is no longer news that in Ogun State, we reward our athletes when they perform excellently, like they have done here, as the State Government doles out instant reward for motivation and encouragement. We are certain of a glorious future in sports with these budding talents we have”, he said.
Similarly, Acting Director of Sports, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Alade, attributed the giant strides Team Ogun contingent achieved at the National Youth Games in Delta to the relentless effort of the state government at repositioning sports at all levels.
She revealed that Team Ogun’s Atinuke Onabiyi became the first ever youth athlete to record the highest score by any youth in Nigeria in Female Rifle Individual Shooting, scoring 502.1 point in a single shot, thereby surpassing the record set by Akwa Ibom’s Etuk Effiong (486) at the 2022 National Youth Games.
The Acting Director of Sports who described the presence of the commissioner as a morale booster for the athletes, appreciated him for his relentless effort at making the young athletes fulfil their life-long dream of representing their state and competing at major tournaments
The new National Record Holder, an SS3 student of Greenlands Academy, Onikolobo, Abeokuta, who won two Gold medals, Atinuke Onabiyi, expressed excitement at representing the state
She appreciated Governor Dapo Abiodun for the cash awards, saying it has always been her lifelong dream to represent Nigeria at the Olympic Games.
Miss Onabiyi, who won gold in Female 10m Air Rifle for Team Ogun in Shooting, qualified for the next Youth Olympics Games in Dakar, Senegal.
With the exceptional performance of Team Ogun Shooters, all the three state Shooters had been invited by the Nigeria Shooting Sports Federation (NSSF).
The contingent finished in the top six positions on the overall medals table with 37 medals including 11 Gold, 11 Silver and 15Bronze
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