The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State has felicitated with Commonwealth Games gold medalist in Discus, Chioma Onyekwere for the award of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) to her by President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a statement signed by the chairman, Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu, which was made available to LEADERSHIP Sunday in Umuahia the capital yesterday, the party also commended Buhari for honouring the champion.
The 28-year old Abia State-born US-based international athlete and mechanical engineer became the first Nigerian woman to win a gold medal in the event at the 22nd edition of the competition in Birmingham this year.
The statement said the party equally lauded her family and particularly her father, Sir Chima Onyekwere, “a pillar and super stakeholder of the party and also an Officer of the Order of the Niger for pioneering the introduction of the Internet in the country.”
“In fact this is a clear case of like father like daughter in patriotism, dedication, and focus on great heights in life. This is exactly what we in the APC stand for. We’re bent on making things work again in the state,” he noted.
The chairman explained that if elected in the forthcoming general election, the APC will encourage sports development as part of its youth empowerment programme by providing the athletes all they will require to excel.
“We’ll have many reasons to encourage and engage in sports development. The sector can be used to address youth festiveness, unemployment, crime, and insecurity just as it is also a potential gold mine for both local and foreign revenue,” he added.
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