By Gowon Akpodonor
Sports Minister, Senator John Owan Enoh, has declared that his aspiration going to Paris 2024 Olympics is for ‘Team Nigeria’ to surpass the country’s best Olympic performance, achieved at Atlanta ‘96.
The Minister spoke after a parley at the Media Center of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
“Just like it was with the Africa Games in Accra, Ghana, I will spell out from A-Z, the entitlements for our athletes,” he said. “My aspiration is for the nation to surpass our previous record from our best Olympic Games performance in 1996.”
Speaking further, Enoh said: “We have been working on this goal through our preparations, arrangements, and performance team working with athletes in Germany. I am getting reports on the progress every day.”
He added that his open and engaging leadership style is aimed at making athletes feel appreciated and valued by the country. “We want to get our athletes to feel appreciated and wanted by our country,” he stated.
Senator Enoh also highlighted the financial support allocated for the athletes, including the entire ₦100 million donation from the Federal House of Representatives.
“The ₦100 million donation from the Federal House of Reps will entirely go to the athletes,” he confirmed.
In addition to this, athletes will receive local camping allowance, foreign training grants, foreign training camp allowances, Olympic Games allowances, and winning bonuses.
The Guardian recalls that Nigeria achieved her biggest performance ever at Atlanta ’96 Olympics, where Chioma Ajunwa won gold in long jump with a leap of 7.12m, just as the nation’s U-23 football team also captured gold with Celestine Babayaro, Taribo West, Nwankwo Kanu, Uche Okechukwu, Emmanuel Amunike, Tijani Babangida, Wilson Oruma, Teslim Fatusi, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, Victor Ikpeba, Abiodun Obafemi, Garba Lawal, Daniel Amokachi, Sunday Oliseh, Mobi Oparaku and Joseph Dosu. Nigeria also grabbed a silver medal in the women’s 4x400m relay through Bisi Afolabi, Fatima Yusuf, Charity Opara and Falilat Ogunkoya. In the women’s 400m event, Falilat Ogunkoya got a bronze medal, while Mary Onyali also picked a bronze medal in 200m. Another bronze medal in Super heavyweight boxing by Duncan Dokiwari capped the historic moment for Nigeria at Atlanta ’96.
