The Bayelsa State Government, through the Ministry of Sports Development, has welcomed Bayelsa athletes who won medals for Team Nigeria at the recently concluded African Senior Wrestling Championship in Casablanca, Morocco.
Team Nigeria secured a total of 13 medals at the tournament, comprising 10 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze medals.
Bayelsa-born athletes Hannah Reuben, Mercy Genesis, Ebipatei MUGHENBOFA, Ebi Biogos, and Stephen Izolo all won gold for Nigeria, while Ebikeme Newlife settled for silver and Ebierelayefa ANDREW secured a bronze.
Bayelsa State’s Commissioner for Sports Development, Honourable Daniel Igali, received the athletes in his office on Tuesday on behalf of Governor Douye Diri, saying that the reception was to appreciate them for the joy they have brought to Bayelsa and Nigeria.
Honourable Igali announced rewards of ₦200,000 for each gold medalist and ₦100,000 for each silver and bronze medalist. In addition, the coaches also received ₦100,000 each.
“I really want to applaud our athletes for the remarkable performance they put up at the African Wrestling Championships in Morocco. Of course, you cannot achieve such results without the support of the coaches, so I want to appreciate Akuh Purity, our Cuban coach, and all the state-level coaches,” said Igali.
“As a ministry, we are rewarding you with ₦200,000 each for gold, ₦100,000 for silver and bronze, and the same amount for the coaches,” Igali stated.
In his remarks, Honourable Daniel Igali also expressed gratitude to the leadership of the National Sports Commission, led by Shehu Dikko and Bukola Olopade, whose support helped the athletes deliver an outstanding performance.
Similarly, Honourable Igali lauded the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, for his consistent support to the Wrestling Federation.
In an earlier address, the Director of the Bayelsa State Sports Council, Sir Braveman Wodi, echoed the Commissioner’s praise, highlighting that the wrestlers’ victory is a testament to the massive investment in sports by the state government under Governor Douye Diri and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
Speaking on behalf of Team Nigeria, Hannah Reuben, who captained the contingent, expressed gratitude to the Bayelsa State Government, the National Sports Commission, the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, and Comptroller General Adeniyi, among other stakeholders, for their support.
The highlight of the reception was the presentation of the women’s trophy to the Honourable Commissioner by the contingent.
The reception was also attended by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Grace Alagoa, Assistant Director of Human Resource Management Micheal Alakere, and other high-ranking ministry staff.
Authored by: Promise Okotoko
