Dalung scores Nigeria sports high in 2017
The Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung yesterday said Nigeria has achieved a lot in the area of sports over the last two years ago.
Dalong told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos yesterday that the country was able to democratise access to leadership of the various sports federations leading to greater successes in the various sports.
“I assumed office in November 2015 with the mandate to supervise the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes on youth and sports development.
“Towards wealth creation, youth empowerment, physical fitness and wellbeing; achieving excellence in sports, national unity and sustainable development,” he said.
Dalong said that the ministry is working to provide sustainable policies and programmes in conjunction with other stakeholders to promote and enhance sports development.
“Appointment into the board of the sporting federations was fully democratised. This singular action informed the emergence of credible leadership for the federations.
“The immediate dividend of which has been the manifest improvement in the performance of the federations in various continental and international tournaments,” the minister said.
He said that democratisation of the sports federation led to the country winning eight gold, two silver and one bronze medal in African Wrestling Championship in Marrakesh, Morocco.
“The country also won one silver medal at the World Championship in Paris, France.
“Nigeria’s foremost female wrestler, Odunayo Adekuroye was elected as an Athletes Representative to the United World Wrestling Federation.
“Daniel Igali, the President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation was also elected a member of the United World Wrestling Federation Technical Committee,” Dalong said.
He said other achievement of Nigeria in 2017 includes; winning 13 gold, four silver and one bronze in the Junior and Youth championships Uganda.
He gave other achievements as, female hockey winning bronze at the Africa Cup of Nation, and five Nigerian coaches certified as Grade Three Coaches by the International Hockey Federation. Weightlifting held in