The commencement of Nigeria’s journey to the 2020 Olympic Games, scheduled to take place in Japan later this year, was marked by a courtesy visit to the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, by Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Sunday Dare. During the visit, the minister decorated the governor and presented an award to him in recognition of his significant role in sports development in Nigeria and his support as Grand Patron for Nigeria’s 2020 Olympic Games efforts.
Addressing the governor at the decoration ceremony held at the Government House, Asaba, the minister expressed gratitude to the governor for welcoming the team in the state and praised the remarkable progress in the development of sports in the state. He highlighted the state’s contribution to the pool of sports superstars in the country, many of whom are expected to represent Nigeria at the Olympic Games, particularly in athletics. Notable Delta-born athletes, such as Ese Brume, Divine Oduduru, and Blessing Okagbare, are anticipated to compete alongside the world’s top athletes and secure accolades for the country at the competition.
The minister also emphasized that the visit provided an opportunity to assess the state’s preparation for not only the Olympics but also the upcoming National Sports Festival scheduled to be held in Edo State from March 22nd to April 1st, 2020. He expressed confidence in the state’s ability to once again excel at the games and discover new talents who could represent Nigeria at global sporting events in the future.
In response, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa thanked the minister for his visit and commended his efforts in the sports sector since assuming office. He acknowledged the positive impact the minister has made in bringing order to sports in Nigeria and stressed the importance of fostering relationships, advocacy, and engaging with all stakeholders to bring the best out of Nigeria in sports.
The governor assured the minister of the state’s support for Nigeria’s Olympic preparations and expressed optimism in achieving Nigeria’s 2020 Olympic dreams with the cooperation of all involved. He pledged to provide support to Delta athletes to ensure they perform at their best during the Olympics, aiming to ignite their competitive spirit and drive for the benefit of the country.