TheCable

Team Nigeria’s contingent to the recently concluded 2022 Commonwealth Games (CWG) will be hosted to a presidential reception on September 15.

Sunday Dare, minister of youths and sports development, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

Nigeria won 12 gold, 9 silver, and 14 bronze — a total of 35 medals — at the games.

The Nigerian team also finished as the best-ranked African country on the medals table, placing 7th.

Earlier this month, while promising cash gifts to the CWG medalists, Dare assured the athletes of a presidential reception. He added that the date will be announced soon.

Sequel to the development, the minister said “President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval” has been given for “a special reception” to honour the athletes.

He added that the event will be held at the state house in Aso Rock, Abuja.

“The Presidential reception for the victorious Team Nigeria athletes to the just concluded Commonwealth Games in Birmingham has been scheduled to hold on Thursday, September 15, 2022, at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja,” the statement reads.

“The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, who disclosed this today in his office in Abuja, stated that this 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 be held in their honour.

“Dare stated further 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.

“For harvesting 35 medals for the country, made up of 12 gold, 9 silver and 14 bronze and lifting the nation’s name high as Number 1 in Africa, the Minister reiterated the present administration’s commitment to the development of sports, assuring that the Ministry on its part, 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.”