Ministry pays for Oshonaike’s surgery, tennis star thanks Dare

After months of going through agonising  pains due to a tooth tumour, Nigerian  Table tennis Queen Funke Oshonaike can  smile  again following  the intervention  of  the Minister of Youth and Sports Development Minister Mr Sunday Dare who footed  part of the bill for the surgery.

 Oshonaike had appealed   for financial  assistance  from the Minister  to enable her   undergo the surgery , saying  she had exhausted  her purse on previous procedures. In a  message sent to the Minister , Oshonaike    said ”  Thank you very  much my Honourable Minister  of Youth and Sports Development Minister Mr Sunday Dare  for your love and care. I have never been shown so much love and care   by any  Minister  of sports in Nigeria. I am  so overwhelmed with  joy. I will never forget your kind gesture sir.  Thanks for  what you have done for me . I almost gave up, I was so scared  because they told me I could lose all my teeth if the surgery was not done on time. I went through alot of pains in the Olympic  qualifiers. I was scared  I may not even qualify. Thanks be to God Almighty I not only qualified, but the surgery  was successful . May God  meet you at the point of your needs   for what you are doing for Nigerian  Sports.”

The Minister had  said the welfare of Athletes whether active or retired  remains  the  focal point of the Ministry’s policy.