...Access, Zenith, GTB Boost D’Tigers, D’Tigress with N100m
Nigeria’s senior men and women’s basketball teams heading to the Olympic Games yesterday received cash boosts from three commercial banks to the tune of $200,000 (about N100million) to support their preparations and outings in Tokyo, Japan.
D’Tigers and D’Tigress are to get $100,000 each from the support from Zenith, Access and Guarantee Trust (GT) banks.
The three banks made the donation to the teams’ preparations in response to the appeal by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare for corporate organizatios to adopt the national teams.
Speaking yesterday on the gesture from the finance houses, the Sports Ministry expressed its appreciation to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, who was central to the process leading to the adoption of the high riding basketball teams.
It noted that the CBN governor had earlier supported the revitalization of the Principals’ Cup this year.
The Ministry further thanked the Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank Mr. Ebenezer N. Onyeagwu, Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, Managing Director/ CEO of GT Bank, Mr. Segun Agbaje and their financial institutions for adopting the national basketball teams.
It stressed that there was still room for other corporate organizations to adopt Olympic-bound athletes and teams, the Ministry expressed confidence that the financial support has further brightened Nigeria’s chances at clinching gold in basketball.