Lefika International Relays: Okowa Charges Team Nigeria To Reciprocate President Tinubu’s Commitment To Sports Development
By Clement Nwankpa Jr in Gaborone Botswana
President of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Chief Tonobok Okowa has tasked the Team Nigeria contingent at the Lefika International Relays billed for Gaborone Botswana on Saturday to reciprocate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment towards sports development by picking tickets to the World Relays Championships also slated for Gaborone in May.
Chief Okowa arrived at the Gaborone International Airport at 2pm local time on Friday and headed straight to the Emerald hotel where the athletes are lodged to check on their welfare while giving them the ultimate charge.
At the meeting, he reminded them of the task at hand. In his opinion, the mission to Gaborone for the Lefika International Relays is not for sight-seeing.
His words, “We desire to have as many teams as possible at the World Relays Championships. That’s why we are here. You can see that the National Sports Commission as mandated by the President has supported sports development in this country tremendously, particularly athletics.
“They have made it easier to participate in these international tournaments. We have never had it this good. We owe the President and the Commission the responsibility to deliver. To whom much is given, much is expected.”
Meanwhile a delegation of the Nigerian High Commission in Botswana consisting of Head of Chancery Temilade Helen Shelowo and First Secretary Mercy Imodor came to support the athletes with food items. They lent their voices to that of Okowa and enjoined the athletes to fly the Nigerian flag high tomorrow.
Nigeria will compete in four events at the competition, namely the men’s 4x100m and 4x100m mixed, men’s 4x400m and mixed 4x400m relays aiming to secure qualification in these events for the World Relays Championships.
It should be noted that the women’s 4x100m and the women’s 4x400m relay teams have already qualified for the World Relays Championships.
