The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jubril has pledged to support the Nigeria Olympics Committee on sports development to improve the nation’s performance in sports competitions globally.
The Naval Chief who spoke in Abuja during his honorary investiture as a patron of “One Service, One Medal project (OSOM) towards RIO 2016 Olympics,” by President of the Nigeria Olympics Committee Sani Ndanusa.
Vice Admiral Jubril said the Navy will support OSOM to improve the quality of athletes that represent Nigeria in future international sports events.
He said, “This we can start by looking at where we have comparative advantage and build on it, train on it and expose our athletics to outside competition.”
Admiral Jubril said the Navy will target gifted athletes in future recruitment so as to contribute in the development of champions that will represent the service and the country at large.
“In recruitment we will look out for talents and we will develop them on sporting activities.” He said.
He also said the navy is commitment in sponsoring the swimming competition and promoting aquatic sports which is an environment that is familiar to the navy.
Admiral Jubril noted that the first medal to be won by a Nigeria in the Olympics games was by Navy personnel in Tokyo Olympics of 1964.
Earlier, the President of Nigeria Olympics Mr Sani Ndanusa said his delegation was at the Naval Headquarters to solicit the support of the navy in sports development.
Ndanusa said a large number of Olympic medalist won by Nigeria at International events, Olympic and the Commonwealth Games were military and paramilitary personnel.
He added that the NOC seeks collaboration with Military and Paramilitary services in the country to harness a high performance strategy towards the Olympic Games.
Ndanusa further stated that One Service One Medal project initiative was set up to partner relevant agencies, organized standardized sports competitions where potential medal winners may emerge.
He said: “We want to challenge each service to produce one medal whatever category so that we can get 16 medals.”
“We want to thank you mostly sincerely for the effort and commitment the navy had put into aquatic sports.” Ndanusa said.
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