GOVERNOR UDUAGHAN URGES YOUTHS TO FOLLOW OKAGBARE'S FOOTSTEPS AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SPORTING FACILITIES
Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare sensationally became the Commonwealth champion last night when she ran 10.85 seconds to beat the pack that included Jamaican duo of Veronica Campbell-Brown and Kerron Stewart who took the silver and bronze in 11.03 and 11.07 respectively.
On the stands cheering was Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State who has been the pillar of many Nigerian athletes including Okagbare. He was emotional about the victory, jumping and sending high fives to Nigerians around him.
Dr. Uduaghan, whose administration discovered and nurtured Okagbare to stardom, added: "Please let us celebrate her and Delta State and thereby encourage her to do more for Nigeria."
Okagbare, who has continued to receive support and encourage from the Governor Uduaghan administration, won the gold medal in the female 100m race, finishing at 10.85 sec, to set a new Commonwealth record.
Governor Uduaghan who wished Okagbare success in the 200m and long jump events, urged youths in Delta State to follow in her footsteps by taking advantage of the sporting facilities and opportunities provided by his administration.
"I plead with our youths in Delta State to take full advantage of the numerous sporting facilities and opportunities which my administration has worked hard to provide.
"Only last week I commissioned the second Olympic size swimming pool in Delta State at the Warri City Stadium with a third one also coming up in Asaba. We commissioned the first one at Oghara last year," he said.
Besides, his administration set the pace in world class facilities with an ultra- modern Gym built for weightlifting which is already yielding fruits as most of the athletes lifting Nigeria to glory are from Delta State.
Dr. Uduaghan promised to continue to encourage and provide opportunities for youths in the state to excel in sports and their chosen career paths, saying: In Delta State, we appreciate and reward all our athletes who bring honour to the State.
“It was a deserved victory. She has made Nigeria proud and we are happy about this sweet victory,” Uduaghan said. After the World Championship in Russia last year, Uduaghan approved special training grants for Okagbare. Blessing was so emotional that she shed tears and promised Uduaghan that she would deliver a world title in his honour. She did so yesterday.
“This is great for Nigeria. Uduaghan is a powerful motivator. He inspired this victory,” Amaju Pinnick, the Delta State chairman of Sports Commission said. Uduaghan had visited Nigerian athletes yesterday to motivate them. The athletes jumped in celebration to receive him.
“It feels great to get this far and win. I’m grateful to God. I thank all those behind this success especially our Governor who is here to support us morally after his financial support,” Blessing said.
She had pulled out her spike shoe to celebrate immediately after the race that saw another Nigerian Blessing Asumnu placing last. She hopes to make up with the relay event.
On the stands cheering was Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State who has been the pillar of many Nigerian athletes including Okagbare. He was emotional about the victory, jumping and sending high fives to Nigerians around him.
Dr. Uduaghan, whose administration discovered and nurtured Okagbare to stardom, added: "Please let us celebrate her and Delta State and thereby encourage her to do more for Nigeria."
Okagbare, who has continued to receive support and encourage from the Governor Uduaghan administration, won the gold medal in the female 100m race, finishing at 10.85 sec, to set a new Commonwealth record.
Governor Uduaghan who wished Okagbare success in the 200m and long jump events, urged youths in Delta State to follow in her footsteps by taking advantage of the sporting facilities and opportunities provided by his administration.
"I plead with our youths in Delta State to take full advantage of the numerous sporting facilities and opportunities which my administration has worked hard to provide.
"Only last week I commissioned the second Olympic size swimming pool in Delta State at the Warri City Stadium with a third one also coming up in Asaba. We commissioned the first one at Oghara last year," he said.
Besides, his administration set the pace in world class facilities with an ultra- modern Gym built for weightlifting which is already yielding fruits as most of the athletes lifting Nigeria to glory are from Delta State.
Dr. Uduaghan promised to continue to encourage and provide opportunities for youths in the state to excel in sports and their chosen career paths, saying: In Delta State, we appreciate and reward all our athletes who bring honour to the State.
“It was a deserved victory. She has made Nigeria proud and we are happy about this sweet victory,” Uduaghan said. After the World Championship in Russia last year, Uduaghan approved special training grants for Okagbare. Blessing was so emotional that she shed tears and promised Uduaghan that she would deliver a world title in his honour. She did so yesterday.
“This is great for Nigeria. Uduaghan is a powerful motivator. He inspired this victory,” Amaju Pinnick, the Delta State chairman of Sports Commission said. Uduaghan had visited Nigerian athletes yesterday to motivate them. The athletes jumped in celebration to receive him.
“It feels great to get this far and win. I’m grateful to God. I thank all those behind this success especially our Governor who is here to support us morally after his financial support,” Blessing said.
She had pulled out her spike shoe to celebrate immediately after the race that saw another Nigerian Blessing Asumnu placing last. She hopes to make up with the relay event.
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