Imoke salutes Okagbare, Team Nigeria Athletes

The Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, has hailed IAAF
World Championships double medallist, Blessing Okagbare, and the rest
of the team for delivering on their promise of ending Nigeria’s medal
drought at the championships.
The Nigerian track and field team had promised to win medals at the
just ended championships in Moscow, Russia at the dinner to round off
the All Nigeria Athletics championships in Calabar, Cross River State
last June.
At the dinner, Okagbare, who spoke on behalf of her colleagues,
thanked the governor for his huge support for athletics and promised
to put an end to their fruitless journey to the championships.
Imoke said: “I am particularly delighted that the athletes have
fulfilled their promise to me.
“I want to congratulate Okagbare for winning a silver and a bronze medal.
“I also want to congratulate the team for the high level of discipline
exhibited at the championships.”
The governor is also delighted that the state has continued to provide
the lucky charm for Nigeria’s national teams.
He added: “We are happy we have been providing the platform for our
national teams to excel and have turned Calabar into the sports
capital of Nigeria.
“We have also embarked on a youth and sports development programme
that is unprecedented in Nigeria.
“And the results have started coming in.”
Honourable Patrick Ugbe, the state Commissioner for Sports, believes
the state is blessed with a visionary leader who is transforming the
state.
Ugbe is thrilled that the state provided the platform for the AFN to
pick the team that ended Nigeria’s 14 years wait for a medal.
Nigeria last mounted the podium 14 years ago in Seville, Spain at the
championships’ seventh edition.
Okagbare’s silver and bronze medal wins in the long jump and 200m
events respectively last week in Moscow at the 14th edition of the
championships ensured a reversal in fortunes.