Obajimi hails Delta’s N25m grants to athletes

By Kate Obodo
Nigeria Association of Women in Sports (NAWIS) president, Gloria Obajimi, has hailed  Delta state governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan for giving a N25m grant to aid Delta athletes’ preparations for next year’s Olympics Games.

Obajimi, a former athlete, told  Saturday Vanguard that the initiative was a welcome development as it will go a long way  to assist the athletes who have the prospects of winning medals at the London 2012 Olympics.

She added that the initiative will also compel the Federal Government and the National Sports Commission to wake up to their responsibilities and release money to the AFN to start a broader preparation. .

According to her: “We are really,  grateful for what the governor of Delta state  has done. It was thoughtful of him to have  given Delta athletes N25m, to prosecute their plans ahead the Games  which Blessing Okagbare  also benefited from it.

“With barely six month to the Games, it is  really disappointing that our athletes have no focus. This because there are no funds to drive our preparations.

She continued: “For these athletes to do well at the Games, they have to be adequately prepared  and well managed. These athletes need physiotherapists, psychologists, coaches, managers and all others who will be with them  and these things cost money.

“Now, they have to concentrate on one competition instead of being in every competition in order to  make ends meet so as to pay their bill. It  is  a good one  and I pray that the athletes will utilise the money properly”. Obajimi said.