The Delta State governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has keyed into the Adopt-an-Athlete initiative of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development by adopting six Olympic-bound Nigerian athletes.
The athletes are Ese Brume, Blessing Okagbare, Divine Oduduru, Raymond Ekevwo, Itshekiri Usheorise and Ogho Oghene Egwero and Divine Oduduru.
Sports Minister Sunday Dare launched an “adopt an athlete” initiative last year December to increase funding for the development of sports in the country in the build up to the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The initiative so far has seen 20 Nigerian athletes being adopted by some Nigerian business mogul Sir Kessington Adebutu, also known as Baba Ijebu, Edo state deputy governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shuaibu among others.
It will be noted that the Overseas based adopted athletes are to get $20,000, while the home based athletes would pocket $10,000 from the individuals and corporate bodies that adopted them.
It will be noted that Nigeria have struggled at the Olympic Games recently, sending 77 athletes to Rio 2016 but only claiming a bronze medal in the men’s football competition while the nation did not earn a single medal at London 2012.
