President Muhammadu Buhari with (L-R) Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare during the presentation at the State House, Abuja.
President Muhammadu Buhari has lauded the medal-winning performances of several Nigerian athletes and their counterparts in other sports, describing their dedication and commitment as “awe-inspiring”.
The President made the remarks on Wednesday in Abuja where he received the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare, who recently earned a “Special Recognition Award” for Contributions to Sports Development in Nigeria and the African Region from President Mohammed Solih of the Maldives.
Speaking after receiving the trophy from the Minister, President Buhari thanked him for the honour to the country.
He recounted the exploits of Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, at national and international stages, but added that he still had not forgotten Nigeria’s absence at the Qatar World Cup in 2022.
Commending Chief Dare’s “enormous contributions” to sports development, the President expressed delight that the Minister has been “recognised and applauded outside the shores of the country”.
Under Chief Dare, the President continued, Nigeria’s sports sector has developed from “recreation to business”, adding that with the revamping of infrastructure, laurels have been harvested at international events by “our athletes” while “harmony and unity of purpose” have prevailed in several sporting associations.
He also applauded the Minister’s commitment, dedication and service to the nation in a sector that “brings young and old together”, as well as athletes and fans.
He extended his best wishes to the Sports Minister, urging him to continue to give his best for God and country.
In his remarks, the Minister thanked President Buhari for his “tireless support” towards sports matters in the country.
He cited the “generous and timely funding” from the government to all sporting organisations and their “many local and international engagements”, describing the recent donation of N200 million to Team Nigeria at the last Commonwealth Games as “deeply inspiring”.
Reporting by Abdullah Bello; Editing by Abdullahi Lamino and Tony Okerafor