The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister has approved the long-overdue rewards for athletes who represented the FCT at the 2022 National Sports Festival. The delay in recognizing the athletes was attributed to the previous administration.
In a statement issued by the FCT Director of Sports, Mr. Luka Istifanus, Minister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike affirmed that the athletes deserve commendation for their dedication and outstanding performance. He praised their historic achievement of finishing 9th overall, marking the FCT’s best-ever result at the National Sports Festival.
Istifanus expressed appreciation for Wike’s commitment to sports development and his recognition of excellence. He also urged the Minister to extend similar support to the U-15 athletes who represented the FCT at the 2023 and 2024 National Youth Games, where they achieved 7th and 9th positions, respectively.
“FCT in 2022 hit a milestone like never before when they emerged 9th position which has never been done by the FCT team in the past National Sports Festivals.
“Athletes are elated to have a sports loving Minister like his Excellency Nyesom Ezenwo Wike who rewards hard work and excellence.
“We have enjoyed good attention from the Minister since he assumed office,he understands that Sports is a key factor in the FCT and the country, he is always concerned about the welfare of the athletes that is why he approved this reward for them to keep representing the FCT with a winning mentality.”
He also highlighted that the FCT is preparing really well for the 2024 Gateway Games taking place in Ogun state in January 2025. However, the award ceremony is scheduled for December 2024.
Meanwhile, Enugu State is set to make history as the first state in the South East region to host the prestigious National Sports Festival since its inception in 1973. The state secured the hosting rights for the 23rd edition of the festival after a competitive bidding process involving several states across the federation.
The announcement was made to Government House correspondents by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Lloyd Ekweremadu, and the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Chris Ozongwu, following a State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Peter Mbah.
With the hosting rights in hand, Ekweremadu emphasized the state government’s commitment to organizing a world-class event that upholds the festival’s legacy of excellence, inclusivity, international appeal, and talent discovery. He credited Enugu’s successful bid to Governor Mbah’s visionary leadership and significant investments in the sports sector, noting that plans are already underway to upgrade and enhance the state’s sports infrastructure.
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