Two times Commonwealth Games Champion, Odunayo Adekuoroye has been adopted by a philanthropist known as ‘Halogen’. The adoption was made at the launch of the Adoption Campaign at the Civic Centre in Victoria Island Lagos.
Tokyo 2020 medal hopeful, Odunayo Adekuoroye and other home grown athletes who were adopted by individual and corporate bodies will pocket $10,000, while the Overseas based Adopted athletes are to get $20,000.
The Deputy Governor of Edo state, Philip Shuaibu also adopted a Nigerian based athlete, while Tobi Amusan was adopted by another philanthropist.
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare called on well meaning Nigerians to come together to ensure that Team Nigeria succeeds in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
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Dare who acknowledged that the government could not do it alone, informed guests at the event that Nigeria needed N14bn to prepare for the Olympics in 2020 but had just N2bn in the budget.
“This is why we want the corporate world to come in and support our quest to do well at the Olympics. Government cannot do it alone,” He said.
He urged all at the event to help keep the hopes of the athletes alive by supporting the initiative.
“The hope of the athlete is to be at the Olympics, or the World Championship for their sport; to stand on the podium, and fly their country’s flag. They want to be the reasons why Nigeria’s flag should be hoisted and the national anthem is sung while the world watches. This is their reward; but it is also our honour and prestige, and pride among nations. It is this hope that drives them to invest in themselves, to work hard, to endure all odds, and try to surmount every challenge. We are that hope tonight. Let’s not dash it”, the Minister appealed.
He added, “For the Adoption Programme, we hope to reach at least 25 numbers of athletes in 11 numbers of sports, with our 2020 Tokyo Olympic hopefuls. It is our belief that we have partners here tonight who will adopt one, all or any number of the athletes and support them to win gold. By this, we hope we can give them the right pedestal to flourish, guarantees increased chances of success at the games”.
“Adopt just one – an athlete, a facility, a stadium – or it could just be a training track, or a boxing ring, or the volleyball court at the corner of that community”, Dare urged.
“There’s something we can each do. These athletes and youth; they are each travelling the road of their dreams. And only need a little support from us”.
