By JACOB AJOM
The Minister of Sports and Chairman, National Sports Commission Professor Taoheed Adedoja has declared that the ministry will offer scholarship to any member of the victorious Flying Eagles willing to further his education.

Addressing the players at the welcome dinner he organised at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja  for the team after their return from South Africa Monday, Professor Adedoja said, “the National Sports Commission has packaged scholarships for those of you who yet to complete your higher education and those of you already in higher education can continue if you so wish.”

The minister said the team’s victory brought so much happiness to many Nigerians, especially, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who ordered that he received them personally on their return. Said he, “the President gave a very tall order that you must be received as soon as you arrive. It is rare to find the president of a country that can be so attached to sports like ours. This dinner was his making, to thank you for a job well done.

He wants to assure you that you have a future in this country.” He also relayed the President’s promise to receive them “in a few weeks time.”

Reflecting on the susceptibility of sportsmen to injuries, Professor Adedoja said the NSC was working on a plan to have insurance cover for all sportsmen and women in the country. “This will mean in and out of competition “You have given your best for this country and this country will do the best for you.”

NOC meets

As preparations for the forthcoming 2011 All Africa Games in Mozambique intensify, the executive committee of the Nigeria Olympic Committee will be holding a two-day meeting beginning today at the NOC secretariat, Lagos.

Top on the agenda is Nigeria’s participation in the Maputo Games and the London 2012 Olympics.

The NOC will also be discussing with heads of the relevant sports federations on athletes’ preparation and training grants.