Ayobami Disu
Ogun State Government has rewarded outstanding grassroots athletes, who won medals at the 8th National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State with instant cash prizes.
Speaking after the medal presentation to the winners, Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Wasiu Isiaka, saying the instant cash prizes was not just to encourage them to do more, but to also aim for international competitions and tournaments.
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 take sports back to the grassroots.
While appreciating the young athletes for their service to the state, the Commissioner expressed optimism that exposure gained at the games would go a long way in re-moulding the budding talents to become better, in order 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.
On her part, Acting Director of Sports, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Alade, attributed the giant strides Team Ogun contingent made 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.
While appreciating to the Commissioner for his relentless effort at making the young athletes fulfil their life-long dream of representing their state and competing at major tournaments, the Acting Director of Sports acknowledged that his presence had been a morale booster for the athletes.
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, 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).
