Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra on Monday splashed a total sum of N20 million on the state’s medalists and coaches at the 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) held in Benin.
Obiano, who received the athletes and their officials in his Aguleri home in the Anambra East Local Government Area (LGA), applauded the team for their feat at the festival.
He pointed out that their feat was in spite of several challenges in the build-up to the festival held in April.
Anambra won 37 medals, made up of six gold, nine silver, and 22 bronze, during the festival.
Obiano honored the medalists with the sum of N1 million, N500,000 and N250,000 for gold, silver and bronze respectively, amounting to N16 million.
The coaches also received cash rewards of about N3.5 million, ranging from N1 million for the best coach at the festival and N150,000 to bronze medal-winning coaches.
The cynosure of all eyes at the ceremony however was 10-year-old Stephanie Onusiriuka, the kid gymnast at Edo 2020 who won one gold, two silver and one bronze medal and got a total of N2.250 million for her exploits.
Onusiriuka held the governor and the rest of the audience spellbound with a two-minute display of gymnastic skills.
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“I am very proud of you, particularly that little girl that packed so many medals. She has a long way to go and the sky is her limit.
“I want to commend everybody that won gold, silver, and bronze. The challenge you have is that if you won bronze or silver, you must strive to win gold next time, and if you won gold, you must defend it next time,” the governor said.
Tony Oli, Chairman of Anambra State Sports Development Commission, on his part said the athletes and coaches did themselves proud.
He said they did so by ensuring that the state surpassed its own record set at the 2018 festival held in Abuja.
Oli thanked the governor for providing the logistics needed to ensure that Anambra did not only participate but competed favorably.
“With this performance, some athletes from Anambra have been invited to the national camp and can be part of Nigeria’s contingent to the Olympics in Tokyo,” he added.
