In fulfilment of his promise to host the Air Warriors of Lagos upon their becoming champions of the Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, on Friday received members of the team in his office at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.
In his welcome address, the minister expressed gladness at their achievement, especially as it was their first time of participating in the tournament.
Dare said: “It is very exciting for me to receive the Air Warriors Basketball Club.
“When I watched them play in Lagos, I saw a team with talents and skills and predicted that they would go a long way.
“Their story is very compelling.
“Their first time competing in the basketball league and they came out unbeaten.
“No team has ever set that record.
“That is hugely commendable.”
Highlight of the visit was a pledge by the minister that the ministry would sponsor two members of the team to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games in order for them to gain first-hand experience at the games, while learning from Nigeria’s D’Tigers and D’Tigress.
The minister also assured the gathering that the Nigerian Basketball Federation would work closely with the team to make them stronger.
Dare, who attributed Air Warriors’ success to the role of private investors in sports, used the occasion to call on more private individuals and organisations to come on board and help make sports a viable business.
He said: “If you look at their narrative, they are supported by a private individual not government, not the Sports Ministry, but with a bit of logistics support by NBBF.
“This says a lot about the role private individuals can play in developing our sports, discovering talents and also nurturing them.”
Speaking on behalf of the club, the Chairman/CEO of Air Warriors, Abduldumajeed Solademi, thanked the minister for the honour done them, describing the minister as a father.
Solademi said the reception would go a long way to motivate not only the players but also himself to do more with the team and sports generally.
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