With its best-ever performance at the Games, Nigeria set a record with its performance, winning 12 gold, 9 silver, and 14 bronze medals to finish as the seventh-best team in the competition.
Sunday Dare, the minister for youth and sports development, told the team yesterday, just before they left for Nigeria, that they will get a heartfelt welcome from a grateful nation, and that President Buhari is eager to celebrate them.
"I watched every second of your competition", Dare said, praising the athletes for shining a spotlight on the nation. From the outset until I had to leave for other official responsibilities, "I was in Birmingham. Countless Nigerians also followed you. We are all really proud of what you have accomplished for Nigeria and for yourself".
Mr. President is also quite pleased with you and has given his approval for a presidential banquet to be conducted in your honor for the historic accomplishment at Birmingham 2022.
After tightening up the details, we will announce the date, and invite you over from your various bases, and you will have the honor of seeing Mr. President. We will start planning the event right away.
The number of gold medals won by Team Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games is the greatest ever, he said, calling it the nation's best ever showing.
Dare highlighted that Team Nigeria's outstanding performance gained them the seventh place on the medals table and made them the highest-ranked African nation at the Games. He praised this year's performance as fantastic, inspirational, phenomenal, admirable, and commanding.
The minister remarked, "This is a performance like no other; many new records were created, many old records were broken, long-standing jinxes of not placing first in several sports were destroyed.
Earlier, in a message of congratulations, Buhari said he watched some of the vibrant and magnificent events that led to the collection of 35 medals along with millions of other sports-loving Nigerians.
"I salute the memorable performance of Team Nigeria athletes and I commend the 94 deserving ambassadors that proudly flew the Nigerian flag in nine sporting events for those exciting moments when the medalists brought smiles to our faces by breaking world, national, and games records, as well as achieving personal bests in their careers," he said.
The president congratulated Nigerian women for leading the charge in elevating their nation's honor. It is remarkable that our gifted young women and girls won the majority of the medals, including 12 gold ones for the nation, he continued.
Multi-medalists Tobi Amusan (100m Women's Hurdle and 4x100m Relay), Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma, and Grace Nwokocha (4x100m Relay), as well as competitors in women's freestyle wrestling Miesinnei Mercy Genesis (50 kg), Blessing Oborududu (57 kg), and Odunayo Adekuoroye (57 kg), as well as Adijat
He also listed other gold medalists, including Ese Brume for long jump, Chioma Onyekwere and Goodness Nwachukwu for women's discus throw, Eucharia Iyiazi for women's shot put, and Folashade Oluwafemiayo for women's heavyweight powerlifting.
Considering that these are my final Commonwealth Games as head of state, the president said: "This is a great moment and a suitable parting present."
He also praised the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development's senior administration, coaching staff, and team officials for their dedication to guaranteeing the growth of sports in the nation.
He promised that their contributions to making athletes successful on the world stage will be recorded in history.
Over 5,000 competitors competed in 280 medal events over the course of the 11-day Commonwealth Games, representing 72 nations and territories.
Meanwhile, some sports fans have begun pledging to award Team Nigeria's athletes and officials with money for upholding the nation's honor. If they do, the nation will be appreciative and welcome them home with open arms.
Wale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive of Oando Plc, is one of these sports aficionados and has declared that his firm will award cash prizes to every Team Nigeria medalist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
He also listed other gold medalists, including Ese Brume for long jump, Chioma Onyekwere and Goodness Nwachukwu for women's discus throw, Eucharia Iyiazi for women's shot put, and Folashade Oluwafemiayo for women's heavyweight powerlifting.
Considering that these are my final Commonwealth Games as head of state, the president said: "This is a great moment and a suitable parting present."
0 Comments