Extending Presidential reward to all Sports, not too late to do it right

By ‘Lanre Owolabi

The Federal government of Nigeria scored a very important goal on Tuesday, when it celebrated and rewarded the valiant efforts of the Super Eagles, who returned home from the just concluded 2023 AFCON championship in Abidjan, Cote d’ivore, with its eight silver medal, after losing to host and new champions, Cote d’Ivoire in the final game of the championship.

At a well attended ceremony held in Abuja, the Super Eagles players, coaches and team officials were handsomely rewarded by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who conferred national honours of the Member of the Order of the Niger ( MON) on the team, as well as, gifting them each with a flat, plot of land and undisclosed financial rewards.

Beyond anything, it was a very important and significant goal, particularly, at this period of national political and socio-economic challenges bedeviling the country. Much more, we must note that it would do a lot to boost the dampened morale of the Super Eagles, who came short of the expectations of Nigerians.

This new development, with all its goodness has been drawing flakes and disenchantment from genuinely concerned sports stakeholders, who pointedly accused the Federal Government and particularly, the Ministry of Sports Development, for its perennial disrespect and unrepentant apathy against other sports federations, who have consistently done Nigeria proud and even, won continental trophies. And with some sports breaking world records, yet not extended similar gestures.

In recent times, basketball has brought continental honours and achieved global recognition and respect to Nigeria, even during the early months of the life of President Tinubu’s administration. And tongues are wagging with ragging complaints that such gallantry has gone without notice and appropriate rewards.

People are asking questions as to why other equally popular and attractive sports are not given the respect and recognition that they deserve.

Basketball, has unofficially, become the second top rated sport and the most loved and followed by Nigerians in recent times, and this is because they have always risen to the occasion by doing Nigeria proud, each time they wear the national colours of Nigeria, with great pride and patriotism.

It is good to draw the attention of Senator John Owan Enoh, the high flying and hardworking Honourable Minister For Sports Development, of the many incredible feats of Nigeria’s senior male and female national basketball teams at continental and global championships.

National men and Women teams of the Wrestling Federation, national women and men’s team of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Men and women national teams of Table Tennis Federation, Men and women’s national teams of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria and a few others, who not only conquered Africa, but are dominating the world and setting global records in the process.

They all deserved to be looked at and rewarded appropriately too, for equity and justice to prevail on our sporting industry. So that our various sports athletes know what it means to represent Nigeria with pride and patriotism.

It will be well and encouraging to other grade “A” sports, and indeed the rest, if the Honourable Minister, who promised to give equal support, encouragement, and developmental opportunities to all sports, is seen to be doing so.

And to ensure that our sports can register monumental growth and development under his watch, instead of the discontentment, silent whispers of despair being harbored by the remaining sports, which poses a very clear and present danger to our sports industry.

Is not too late for the Federal Government to do it right? It is not too late to celebrate and honour the D’Tigress, Wrestling champions, Table Tennis champions, Athletics record breaking champions, Badminton champions and others, like they did the Super Eagles who won silver medal at the continental fiesta, in Côte D’ivore.
This will be akin to the proverbial saying, that a stitch in time saves nine.

It is instructive and heart warming to note that the Basketball National women’s team, the D’Tigress, have become the first team sports in Nigeria to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, as Africa’s sole representative and maintained their unbeaten record on the African continent for over 8 years now.

Aside from being the first team to win a continental trophy for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and are still awaiting Presidential reception, just as the other sports earlier mentioned here.

Like the Super Eagles, the champion of Africa, the D’Tigress and other continental and global champions, need to be given a big befitting reception and rewards that will awaken the spirit of patriotism in our sports men and women. And there is no better time, than NOW!