The Honorable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, has encouraged Nigerian athletes to strive for excellence and achieve top placements at the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
Enoh made these remarks on Monday in Abuja during the official handover and farewell ceremony of the Team Nigeria contingent to the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
In his speech, Senator Enoh encouraged the team to aim for top performances at the Games, highlighting the significance of hard work and dedication.
He revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has completely approved the budget for the Games, illustrating his steadfast dedication to sports excellence. Consequently, he charged Team Nigeria members with the responsibility of making the President and the whole country proud in Paris.
“We have no excuse whatsoever,” said Senator Enoh. “The President has approved the entire budget for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, so it is up to us to try to reciprocate the goodwill of the President and give him reasons to continue to do more. It is not the first time he has done this. In December, he did the same for our male and female football teams by paying backlogs of salaries. He has done the same for our contingent going to the Olympics and Paralympics.”
Senator Enoh emphasized the importance of sending athletes on foreign training tours to prepare them physically, technically, and tactically for the Games.
“Given the effort of both the Government and the Ministry, as well as well-meaning agencies, it is important that the athletes involved in this national call of duty regard themselves as performing an ambassadorial function, as ambassadors of Nigeria. We expect discipline, honesty, commitment, and responsibility to perform creditably well for podium placements.”
“Our expectations are high, and given my interactions with our athletes, I have no doubt that these expectations will be met,” he added.
