President Buhari has commended the Nigeria team for an outstanding outing in the just concluded Commonwealth Games classifying it as a special moment and a fitting parting gift.
Buhari said this was the last Commonwealth Games he will experience while in office as the number one citizen, adding that the feat recorded by the athletes will linger in the memory perennially.
“We are proud of these achievements and the memories will linger with the nation forever and for me this is a special moment and a fitting parting gift, being my last Commonwealth Games as Head of State,” he said.
In a statement released on Sunday, August 7, by Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Buhari noted that he joined millions of sports-loving Nigerians to watch some of the remarkable moments in a competition that hosted about 5000 athletes from 72 nations that competed for 280 medal events.
Dignifying the feat attained by Team Nigeria, Buhari explained that 94 worthy ambassadors that proudly flew the Nigerian flag in nine sporting events, relished exciting moments, especially, when the medalists brought smiles to our faces by breaking world, Africa, national and game records, as well as achieving personal bests in their career.
According to him, 35 medals, comprising 12 gold, 9 silver and 14 bronze, were harvested already on the late evening of the 10th day of the Games, and more medals likely for the country on the last day.
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Buhari thanked the golden fishes of Nigeria for competing among the best in the world and displaying the God-given attributes of the real Nigerian- never give up and strive to the end.
The President underlined that most of the medals won were done by young and agile women, who did extremely well in different categories of sports in Birmingham.
Particularly, in his commendations, Buhari listed the harvest of gold medals by multi-medalist Tobi Amusan (100m Women’s Hurdle and 4x100m Relay), Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma, Grace Nwokocha (4x100m Relay); Miesinnei Mercy Genesis (50 kg), Blessing Oborududu (57 kg) and Odunayo Adekuoroye (57kg) in Women’s Freestyle wrestling; as well as Adijat Adenike Olarinoye (55kg) and Rafiatu Folashade Lawal (59kg) in Women’s
weightlifting.
Also among the gold medalists are Folashade Oluwafemiayo, Women’s heavyweight Para Powerlifting, Eucharia Iyiazi, Women’s shot put, Chioma Onyekwere and Goodness Nwachukwu in Women’s Discus throw, and Ese Brume, long jump.
Nigeria, outstandingly, outperformed the 2018 edition in Gold Coast, Australia, where they won 25 medals that comprised 9 gold, 10 silver and 6 bronze to emerge 8th on the medal table and second in Africa behind South Africa who were 6th on the log.
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