Presidential reception for Team Nigeria holds September 15

The Federal Government will host members of Team Nigeria’s contingent to the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on September 15, the Ministry of sports has disclosed.

A statement by the ministry’s Director, Press and Public Relations, Manga Mohammed, said Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, said, yesterday, that the Presidential reception “is in recognition of the historic performance of the team, which is the best ever since 1950 (72 years ago) when Nigeria first participated at the Games, which led to President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval that a special reception is held in their honour.”

Dare added that the “event is also part of the country’s way of appreciating the Team’s great act of sacrifice, patriotism and determination, demonstrated at the Games, which has brought Nigeria into positive global focus.”

Nigeria won 35 medals at the Games, including 12 gold, nine silver and 14 bronze to end the competition as Africa’s best team.

According to the minister, the present administration is committed to the development of sports and will continue to create an enabling environment for sports to thrive, not just as a recreation, but also as a business and means of investment.

He called on all sports-loving philanthropists in the country to embrace the adopt-an-athlete initiative of the Ministry and join hands with the government in the promotion of sports in Nigeria.

“On behalf of the top management staff of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, as well as the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Dare thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for granting approval for the Presidential reception.