The proficient and skillful athletes that won Gold, Silver and Bronze medals at the last 2022 COMMONWEALTH GAMES (BIRMINGHAM 2022), NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL (ASABA 2022), FIRST PARA GAMES (ABUJA 2022) and AFRICAN CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIP (TRACK) 2022 held in Abuja have been rewarded by the Executive Governor of the Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde on Friday at the Executive Chambers of the office of governor.
While addressing the athletes, coaches and other stakeholders at the forum, Governor Seyi Makinde disclosed that each gold medalist will be rewarded with a million naira, while silver medalists will receive the sum of five hundred thousand naira each and the bronze medalists given three hundred and fifty thousand naira each.
He also added that the participants who did not win medals will be given two hundred and fifty thousand naira each.
The exhilarated Governor of Oyo State commended the three weightlifters who represented Nigeria for their exceptional and brilliant performances at the 2022 Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham United Kingdom. The Governor remarked that Rafiat Lawal who won Gold will be compensated with 10,000 US Dollars while Liadi Taiwo will get 7,500 US Dollars and Osijo Mary Taiwo will be given 5,000 US Dollars.
According to the number one citizen of the state, the athletes that represented Oyo state at the African Cycling Championship (Track) in the year 2022 will be given 3,500 US Dollars and 1,500 US Dollars for Silver and bronzes respectively.
Governor Makinde said that it should be placed on record that Oyo State team came first in the National Sports Festival amongst the states in the South -West geo -political zone stressing that Lagos state was defeated for the first time.
The Governor further pointed out that although Oyo State bidded for the hosting of the next biennial National Sports Festival but lost to Ogun State, it was an opportunity for the state to use some more ample time to complete the ongoing rehabilitation of our sporting facilities ahead of bids that would come after the 2024 festival.
He explained further that the state government submitted a letter to the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to acquire the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Oke Ado, Ibadan.
He promised that the stadium will be renovated and the state of arts facilities will be provided, that means Oyo State will have two world class sports facilities.
While responding to the request of the Oyo State Sports Council, the Governor pledged that the Lekan Salami Stadium and other sports facilities across the state will be completed before the end of the year.