The Sports Minister and Chairman National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, has described Blessing Okagbare as Nigeria’s heroine who is doing the nation proud with her God’s given talent and therefore should be celebrated.
Okagbare at the weeken ended Nigeria’s medal drought at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics which dates back to Seville’99 World Championship where Gloria Alozie and Francis Obikwelu won a silver and bronze medal respectively.
Speaking to reporters in Moscow, Russia Mallam Abdullahi said: “We are very proud of her and what she has achieved by putting us on the world stage. It is not an easy feat to be one of the best three in the world in any event, more so in a highly technical event like the long jump, I congratulate her and all Nigerians who stood by her with prayers and moral supports.’’
Okagbare was tipped by bookmakers all over the world to win a medal in the 100metres race based on her splendid performances in the IAAF Diamond League which peaked with a record breaking 10.79 seconds at the London leg of the league. But she could only place sixth in the final on Monday returning a time of 11.04 seconds.
Mallam Abdullahi commended Okagbare for her brilliant effort in 100metres final. “We are proud of her, she did her best. Personally, I will rather focus more on where she has done very well, that is the silver medal she won in the long jump than the 100m. More than any of us she wanted the 100m medal, all she needs now is support and encouragement to succeed in other future competitions and games, I believe we should focus more on her success and celebrate a star who has done us proud at the highest level.’’
Also, the President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Evangelist Solomon Ogba commended Okagbare for her success in the long jump and urged Nigerians to celebrate her,
“She has done well. We as a federation, we are happy and proud that we have an athlete like Okagbare. We thank the Federal Government, the NSC and all Nigerians for their support. I was delighted with the news from home after she won the silver medal in the long jump; the whole country celebrated her feat. I also thanked the Honourable Minister Mallam Abdullahi, he is great lover of track and field, either at the grassroot level or the world stage like this. It is on record that he is the first Minister of Sports to attend our Golden League, All Nigeria Athletics Championship and even the World Championships, we are grateful to him,’’ said Evang. Ogba.
