The National Sports Commission has rewarded teenage athlete Jacinta Lawrence Andrew with a cash reward of ₦3 million after naming her the Outstanding Junior Athlete of 2025, in recognition of her impressive performances on the continental athletics stage.
The presentation took place on Friday at Community Secondary Commercial School, Ibiaku Itam in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State shortly after school hours, drawing students, teachers and sports officials who gathered to celebrate the rising star.
Officials of the National Sports Commission travelled from Abuja for the ceremony, which was attended by the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, represented by the Director of Coaching in the Ministry of Sports, Mrs Catherine Ekuta. Other officials of the ministry, school authorities and Jacinta’s classmates were also present.
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The honour formed part of the NSC Appreciation Tour, an initiative designed to recognise young Nigerian athletes who have distinguished themselves through discipline, hard work and outstanding achievements in sports.
Jacinta, an SS2 student, has quickly emerged as one of Nigeria’s most promising young track athletes. She first gained national attention after winning a silver medal in the girls’ 400 metres at the maiden African School Games held in Algeria.
She later went on to claim gold in the same event at the African Youth Games in Angola, further cementing her reputation as a rising star in athletics.
The young athlete also recently featured in the Nigerian team that secured qualification for the World Athletics Relays, a notable milestone for a secondary school student.
Speaking during the presentation, the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, said the Appreciation Tour represents a renewed effort to recognise and motivate athletes across the country.
He explained that acknowledging the sacrifices and achievements of young athletes serves as encouragement for them to continue striving for excellence.
Olopade added that Jacinta’s achievements reflect the enormous potential within Nigeria’s youth and highlighted the Commission’s commitment to supporting talent development.
According to him, athletes like Jacinta represent the future of Nigerian sports and deserve consistent encouragement and investment to help them reach their full potential on the global stage.
In his remarks, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, represented by Catherine Ekuta, praised the support being given to sports development by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Sports Commission.
He noted that the reward initiative aligns with the sports development drive of Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno, whose administration has continued to invest in youth sports development across the state.
The commissioner said the gesture also reflects the vision of the ARISE Agenda of the Umo Eno administration, which places strong emphasis on nurturing young talents and strengthening grassroots sports.
An emotional Jacinta expressed gratitude to the National Sports Commission for the recognition and also appreciated the Akwa Ibom State Government for its continued support for sports.
She said the encouragement from government and sports authorities has inspired many young athletes in the state to work harder and pursue excellence.
Jacinta pointed to the improved performance of Akwa Ibom athletes at the recently concluded Niger Delta Games, where the state finished fourth with 55 medals, compared to sixth place and 39 medals recorded during the first edition.
The young athlete said the progress shows that sports development in Akwa Ibom is gaining momentum and that the state is producing more talented athletes capable of representing Nigeria on the global stage.
The NSC Appreciation Tour is part of a broader effort by the National Sports Commission to recognise excellence, inspire emerging talents and strengthen grassroots sports development across Nigeria.
