President Muhammadu Buhari will on September 15 host in Abuja Team Nigeria athletes who participated at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Director of press, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development Mohammed Manga made this known in a statement on Friday.
Manga quoted the minister Sunday Dare as saying that, “the reception is in recognition of the athletes’ performance at the Games” and will be staged on September 15.”
“The historic performance of the team, which is the best ever, since 1950 when Nigeria first participated at the Games, is what led to Buhari’s approval that a special reception be held in their honour.
“The event is also part of appreciating the team’s great acts of sacrifice, patriotism and determination, demonstrated at the Games which has brought Nigeria into positive global focus, ” he said.
Dare stressed the administration’s commitment to the development of sports, assuring that the ministry would continue to create an enabling environment for sports to thrive.
The minister also called on sports-loving philanthropists in the country to embrace the Adopt-an-Athlete initiative of the ministry and join hands with the government in the promotion of sports in Nigeria.
Nigeria finished seventh on the medals table, also first in Africa at the Games with 35 medals, comprising 12 gold, nine silver and 14 bronze.
The likes of world record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, Tobi Amusan; Ese Brume, Odunayo Adekuoroye, and Blessing Oborududu are expected to be part of the team to be hosted by the president.
