Post Moscow 2013 - Goodluck blesses Okagbare with N3M & National Honours

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday tasked the Federal Ministries of Sports and Finance to give adequate support to sporting activities, to enable the country to achieve an outstanding performance at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Jonathan gave the directive at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he was presented with the medals won by Blessing Okagbare at the 2013 World Athletics Championships in Moscow.

At the championships, Okagbare won the silver medal in the long jump with a leap of 6.99 metres, placed third in the women’s 200m race and sixth in the 100m final, with a time of 11.04 secs.

As a show of appreciation, President Jonathan said Blessing and her coach, Daniel Esebinimo, would be given national honours. The president also announced cash rewards of N3 million to the athlete and N3.5 million for her coach.

“Nigeria has been known as a sporting nation, but for sometime now, we have receded, but we are lucky that we are building up again.

“I believe that with a young lady like Blessing Okagbare, Nigeria will get back to where it belongs and even go further.