First batch of heroic Team Nigeria arrives from Birmingham

The Federal Government on Wednesday gave a heroic welcome to the first set of Team Nigeria athletes and officials who returned from the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

The Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, who welcomed the athletes and their representatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja praised the team’s outstanding performance, which resulted in the collection of 35 medals and seventh position on the medals table.

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Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Alh. Ismaila Abubakar, the Minister expressed the joy of the entire country over their outstanding achievement, which is the first in the history of the nation.

According to him, the character and discipline exhibited by the team in Birmingham as well as the hard work and resources committed by the present administration to sports added up to make the team excel at the world level.

“We are proud of you. We are also ready to give you all the support needed to make you soar higher and higher” he said.

Dare also thanked God for granting the athletes’ journey mercies back to Nigeria while also appreciating President Muhammadu Buhari for creating the enabling environment that ensured the realisation of the 2022 Commonwealth Games’ success.

Speaking on behalf of the athletes, the two-time Commonwealth gold medallist and Tokyo 2020 silver medalist, Blessing Oborodudu, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for all his support to the Team, describing him as the father of sports in contemporary Nigeria.

Oborududu stated further that the athletes put in their best for the nation because of the enormous encouragement of the Federal government and sports-loving Nigerians pledging that they will continue to make Nigeria proud in subsequent competitions by breaking new and enviable world records.