Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Barrister Nyesom Wike has rewarded FCT athletes that made the nation’s capital city proud at the Delta 2022 National Sports Festival (NSF).
Also honoured were athletes that won medals for FCT at the 2022 and 2023 National Youth Games (NYG) in Delta State respectively.
The minister rewarded gold medalists from the Delta 2022 Sports Festival with N600,000, silver medalists N400,000, and bronze medalists N250,000 respectively. The Youth Games’ gold medalists received 400,000, silver medalists N300,000 and bronze medalists N200,000 each respectively.
Speaking at the 13th FCT Sports Award Night held on Thursday, Wike who was represented by the mandate secretary, Social Development, Hon Ibrahim Aminu, reaffirmed his commitment to reward excellent and hard work, saying under his watch he will not toil with labour and sweat of athletes.
For two years, athletes who represented the FCT at the 2022 National Sports Festival and the 2023 and 2024 National Youth Games went unrecognized by the previous administration.
However, upon assuming office, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike took a decisive step to ensuring the athletes received the acknowledgment due to them.
In her welcome address, the secretary of Social Development Secretariat, Olubunmi Olowookere, commended the Minister for his magnanimity in rewarding the athletes and charged the athletes to continue striving towards the greater height of FCT as well as Nigeria, adding that FCT will not allow their sweat go in vain.
Stakeholders at the event applauded the FCT administration for recognizing the athletes with the awards, stating that the gesture would serve as a strong motivation for the athletes ahead of the next sports festival in Ogun State.
Some of the athletes shared their thoughts on the award, highlighting its significance and the positive impact it would have on their careers.
