Olympic gold’s silver jubilee: Ajunwa moves to construct N6bn sports centre

 By George Aluo

25 years after making history at the Olympics in Atlanta where she won gold for Nigeria, Chioma Ajunwa has unveiled plans to build a N6 billion sports development centre in Owerri as part of the activities to celebrate the silver jubilee of the feat.

Ajunwa who spoke at a press conference yesterday in Lagos said her foundation has lined up a plethora of activities to commemorate  the silver jubilee of the golden jump.

The activities include Olympic talent hunt for girls in eight states of the federation, launching of a N6 billion ultra -modern sports development center in Owerri, Imo state and a dinner at the Transcorp hotel Abuja on August 19, 2021.

Ajunwa, who is an Assistant Commissioner of Police(ACP), noted that it is sad that her record of 25 years is yet to be broken by any Nigerian athlete a situation which she said has propelled her to begin the search for the next Olympic gold medalist for the country.

The sporting activities targeted at girls within the age brackets of 10-17 years, will include athletics, football and taekwondo.

The Chioma Ajunwa Foundation in conjunction with the Aka Ji Ikukuoma Foundation will transverse eight states of the federation namely;  Lagos, Imo, Abia, Edo, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi and Abuja for the talent hunt.

“It is my fervent wish that Nigeria produces more Chioma Ajunwa’s and this can be done by initiating a deliberate and sustainable program such as this.

 “The Chioma Ajunwa Foundation and the Aka Ji Ikukuoma Foundation have come together to change the narrative about sports in Nigeria.

“We are going to the streets, every nook and crannies of this country to help the less privileged and fish out children who through sports can hit international limelight and project the image of this country to the global world”, Ajunwa assured.

In December 2017, the Chioma Ajunwa-Okpara Foundation  was launched to discover new Nigerian stars in sports.