TheCable

Solomon Dalung, minister of sports, says the efforts of the athletes competing at the ongoing Rio Olympic games will not be in vain, as they will not “leave Rio without winning medals”.

According to Tony Ubani, press officer of Team Nigeria, the minister said this shortly after Union Bank Nigeria Plc redeemed its N30 million pledge to support the team.

Although, Nigeria is yet to feature on the medals table, Dalung expressed optimism that Team Nigeria would still win medals.

Ubani said that Yinka Kadejoh, the events and sports officer of the bank, presented ATM cards loaded with N250,000 to each of the athletes.

He said that they could use the cards anywhere in the world.

The ceremony took place at the secretariat of Team Nigeria within the Games village.

The event was witnessed by Habu Gumel, the NOC President; Sani Ndanusa, a former president of NOC; and Adolphus Joe Ekpe, director-general, National Lottery Regulatory Commission.

In her response on behalf of the team, Funke Oshonaike, vice-captain of Team Nigeria, thanked the bank for having ‘a heart of gold’ and remembering the athletes.

She also urged other corporate organisations to emulate the bank’s gesture.

Heavyweight boxer, Efe Ajagba, who also received his card, thanked the bank for the kind gesture.