The Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe has bemoaned the constant neglect of Nigerian sportsmen and women after bringing honour to the country.
He stated this during the dinner/award night for Olympians who represented the country from 1952 to 1980 organised by the Nigerian Olympians Association (NOA)
“The Olympians are the greatest assets that have helped this country in so many areas. Today, so many of our sportsmen and women are being forgotten not taken care off. I want to believe that sometimes, it is the price you are paying today.
“A lot of these great Nigerians who have sustained the glory of this country. With sports, crime can reduce in Nigeria, with sports we can build a new image for this country but unfortunately, nobody has taken good care of those that have contributed. One of our greatest problems is that we don’t celebrate our best. It is high time state government begin to honour them,” he noted.
The nine athletes who were at the 1952 Olympics Games in Finland were Edward Ajado, Titus Erinle, Muslim Arogubdade, Rafiu Oluwa, Karim Olowu and Sylvanus Williams. Others are Josiah Majekodunmi, Nafiu Osagie, Boniface Guobadia.
The NOA awarded a total of selected 21 athletes who represented Nigeria in the first, second and third editions of the Olympic Games in 1952, 1956 and 1964. Though, others who stood out in their performances at the 80s, 90s and 2000s Olympics were also celebrated.
