The Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Mallam Bolakale Adisa Magaji today, Wednesday September 25, 2024, personally rewarded athletes that won medals for the state at the just concluded National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State, with a pledge to recommend to the government to further reward them with scholarships.
Altogether, Kwara won 14 gold, 7 silver and 12 bronze medals in 14 events at the Games, to place 5th overall.
The reward was in fulfilment of the Executive Chairman’s pledge earlier ahead of the Games, to gift gold, silver and bronze medal winners the sum of N10,000, N7,500 and N5,000 cash respectively, as reward.
While presenting the cash gifts to the athletes at the Table Tennis Arena, Mallam Magaji thanked them for doing him and the state proud, observing that virtually all the sports won medals for the state.
Mallam Magaji however, charged the athletes and their coaches to work harder to sustain the tempo, as government will continue to reciprocate the gesture adequately.
“I want to thank His Excellency for his support to the Commission. I also want to thank the athletes and the coaches for the feat achieved, as you surpassed the record of the previous Games. The Commission will recommend to the government to give you scholarships.
The Director of Sports, Mallam Ibrahim Bako described the state’s participation at the 2024 National Youth Games as a participation to be reckoned with, even as he commended the Executive Chairman for fulfilling his promise to the athletes.
He added that the promise made to the athletes by the Executive Chairman ahead of the Games served as a morale booster at the Games.
Former Director of Sports and an Olympian, Mallam Hameed Adio said that the athletes deserve commendation for not recording any negativity throughout the Games, and also surpassing the record of the last edition.
While commending the state Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for impacting positively on sports development, he charged the athletes to take their education serious, and to always support their parents.
Also present at the ceremony are the Secretary of Commission, Haruna Tsado, Board members, management members, the Heads of Departments, coaches and athletes.