Nigeria picked 254 medals across federations under former Sports Minister, says perm sec.
By Uzor Odigbo
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, said former Sports minister, Sunday Dare, led sports to pick-up 254 medals across Sports federations during his four year tenure in office.
After a brief handover event on Monday, Abubakar noted that Chief Dare deserved huge commendation for his laudable initiatives in the ministry while in charge.
He particularly stressed that in three and a half years, Nigeria won a total of 254 medals made of 95 gold, 71 silver and 88 bronze medals across all competitions.
Abubakar noted that through some of Dare’s policies like Adopt-an-Athlete, Adopt a pitch, etc, Nigeria dominated Africa and indeed took the world by storm in Athletics, Wrestling, Basketball, Table Tennis, Cycling, Para-Athletics, Hockey, Powerlifting, Boxing, Para-table Tennis, Volleyball, Scrabble, and indeed Football.
He argued that it was the unprecedented achievements that were recognized by former President Muhammadu Buhari who on Sunday 28th May 2023 conferred on him a national honour Commander of the Order of Niger (CON).
The Perm Sec said: ‘Top moments under his reign was when Tobi Amusan became the first ever Nigerian World Athletics Champion and World Record holder winning the women’s 100m hurdles gold medal at the 2022 World Championships, setting the current World Record of 12.12 seconds in the semi-final. Amusan is one of beneficiaries of Adopt-An-Athlete initiative.
‘The achievements of Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, are the country’s best outing in the competition with 35 medals consisting of 12 gold, 9 silver, and 14 bronze.
‘Athletes’ and coaches’ welfare were major priorities of the Sports Ministry under Dare, as his Adopt-an-Athlete and Adopt-a-Pitch now become a model for some African countries, that have seen the immediate gains such model.
‘Currently, the domestic football leagues in Nigeria in witnessing a turnaround with the Interim management Committee set up by Chief Dare. In Basketball (Women’s Afrobasket), D’Tigress ruled Africa as back-to-back champions in 2019 and 2021. The D’Tigers, Nigeria male senior national team, became first Africans to beat USA.
‘Also, the Nigeria Volleyball U-19 boys won the African title in 2021 and 2022 while Nigeria’s Hockey men’s national team won Bronze Medal at the 2022 African Nations Cup in Ghana. One can go on and on.
Recall that sore points of Dare’s tenure was the ban placed on D’Tigress of Nigeria at World basketball tournament and Super Eagles failure to participate in 2022 FIFA world cup in Qatar
