Oregon, USA with a world record performance in an event highly dominated by the Americans and Europeans.
“She also successfully defended her Commonwealth Games title, which she won in 2018 in Gold Coast, with a games record in 2022 in Birmingham; and Diamond League title in Zurich, Switzerland on Sept. 8, 2022,” the minister said.
According to him, this remarkable performance has never been achieved by any Nigerian in the history of our sports.
He added that Brume, another trailblazer in Nigerian sports, won silver medal in the Women’s Long Jump event at the 2022 World Athletics Championships and a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham with a games record performance.
Dare recalled that the first time Nigeria won a medal in wrestling at the Olympic Games since 1952, was at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics by Oborodudu, who clinched a silver medal to the admiration of the entire globe.
“In confirming that the performance was not a fluke, she won a gold medal in the Women’s 68 kg category at the just concluded 2022 Commonwealth Games,” he said.
While describing Nigeria as the best Para Powerlifting nation in the world, the minister hailed Oluwafemiayo for keeping with this tradition by winning gold medal in the Women’s heavyweight category.
He noted that Oluwafemiayo set a new world record in that class at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics and the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
“Mr President, through the sporting exploits and excellence of the young athletes before you in this hall and several others not able to make it for this reception, Nigeria has served notice that it will not relent.
“That it will show up and compete for every laurel available not only in sports but in youth development, economic progress, social emancipation, political development and many more,” he said.
The minister thanked the president for being a great source of encouragement and support to the teeming youth in sports and other areas.
“This administration’s investment in youth and sports development, will continue to yield dividends years after you might have completed your term as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
He also commended some well-meaning Nigerians and sports philanthropists for keying into several initiatives of the Ministry on sports development.
