Delta 2022: Abiodun splashes N33m cash reward on Ogun medalists, others

Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta

The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun has rewarded athletes that represented the state at the just concluded National Sports Festival with N33m.

The athletes who made the state proud in Asaba won 70 medals, comprising 15 gold, 18 silver and 37 bronze medals.

Abiodun who announced the cash prize at the Oba’s complex during a reception in honour of the athletes, also said that his administration would be rewarding all those who did not win any medal with a sum of N100,000 naira each.

“I am going to appreciate all of you that went to Asaba in Delta State. I was watching the medals and your performances and I was so sure you were going to become number two.

“I don’t know how you went from number two to number eight, when I asked and they said you are number eight, my heart sank. But you know what, you know the spirit of these games is not only in winning, it is the Olympic spirit which is in taking part.

“You’ve done us proud, but I am sure that you will do better when we are hosting that festival. To that end, I am going to be supporting and encouraging all our gold medalists with a sum of N1m each, all our 18 silver medalists will get N500,000 each, while our 37 bronze medalists will go home with N250,000 each.

“All those that went and didn’t win a medal, we will also appreciate you. To encourage you, we will give each and every one of you N100,000,” he said.

Abiodun while commending the athletes for doing the state proud at the festival, also noted that his administration would also be rewarding the coaches who were responsible for their success at the sport festival.

”You have demonstrated your love, passion, commitment and your high level of responsibility in all the games you participated in, you have flown the Ogun colours very well.

“Our coaches will not be left out, the coaches that are looking after you, we will also look after them as well, so they can be further motivated and inspired to continue to work as hard as they’ve done that have allowed you to win all these medals,” the Governor stated.

While noting that the performance of the athletes would further motivate him to support them, Abiodun promised that the next National Sports Festival to be hosted by the state would be a reference point for future sports festivals.

“I want to assure all our participants, all our young men and women that are athletes that the next sports festival in 2024 will be a reference sports festival for many years to come.

“When we do things in Ogun State, we don’t like to come second, we have what we call Ogun Standard and they will see a sports festival they’ve never seen before. We will ensure that all the locations, equipment are world class,” he said.

He added that his administration would camp the athletes for a year, saying that his administration would soon launch its sports trust fund.

“I will encourage all of you to start preparing for this competition in earnest. As suggested, we must be prepared. You want me to camp you for one year, I will camp you for one year. Our determination is not just to host, but to host and win.

“We will soon be launching our sports trust fund, that fund has been on the drawing board for some time because we have been trying to figure out where the funds will come from and we have finally figured that out, so the issue of money will not be your problem,” he said.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Youths and Sport, Dr. Oluwadare Kehinde, while acknowledging the support of the Governor towards the development of sports in the state, noted that the support of the Governor towards the development of sports was the major reason why the state won the right to host the 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival.

In their various remarks, the duo of Kemi Oyebola and Sunkanmi Adewale, while calling for more support and a better reward system for athletes in the state, called for early camping exercise towards the 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival to be hosted by the state.

The General Manager of the Ogun State Sports Council, Iyabode Rotimi, who commended Governor Abiodun for supporting the development of sports in the state, urged the Governor to look at the likelihood of giving some of their athletes who are not staff temporary appointment or stipends to motivate them and stop them from being usurped by other states.