The Adopt-an-Athlete initiative of the Ministry of
Youth and Sports Development under the leadership of the minister, Mr. Sunday
Dare, has continued to attract more private and public sector partnerships,
with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State the latest in the list.
Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has opted to sponsor six
Olympic-bound Nigerian athletes. This multiple adoption has become the single
biggest boost to the campaign of the ministry to seek support for Nigeria’s
athletes to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
The athletes are Ese Brume, Blessing Okagbare,
Divine Oduduru, Raymond Ekevwo, Itshekiri Usheorise and Ogho-Oghene Egwero.
Governor Okowa was recently decorated with an award
of honor for his support for sports development. The state had before now
hosted the Africa Senior Athletics Championship in 2018 and the qualifying
series of the Super Eagles of Nigeria and as well the Olympic team under Imama
Amapakabo, to mention but a few.
The state also remain at the forefront of sporting
excellence in the country emerging overall champions in the last sport festival
held in Abuja.
