The chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, Mr. Amaju Pinnick has described Africa’s queen of the tracks Blessing Okagbare as the greatest sporting asset the country has right now that the nation can not afford to toy with her.

Blessing

The Delta State sports boss made this declaration at the weekend when he and some members of the commission accompanied Blessing Okagbare to the First Baptist Church, Warri where she went to do thanksgiving  to God for her success at the just concluded Africa Athletics Championship in Nairobi, Kenya.

She won two individual gold medals in the 100 meters and Long Jump and was the anchor in the women’s 4 X 100 meters relay event.

Expressing delight that the Sapele born sprinter has been a good ambassador of Delta State since she was discovered some years ago in Sapele,  Pinnick said that with her rising profile in the world of athletics the state government has been justified in the huge investment on her in ensuring that she got the scholarship to study in the United States of America.

He said it was because of the firm belief that athletes should not be used and dumped that the Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan led administration has decided to employ athletes who have done the state proud in major sporting events.

The state has also, in most cases, awarded them scholarships to further their education.. Delta State has the highest number of graduate athletes in the country. Although the likes of Blessing Okagbare are  no longer eligible to compete in the national sports festival the sports commission still have them in its pay roll.

Mr. Pinnick assured Okagbare of the sports commission resolve to continue to assist her in all her endeavours and that in furtherance of that goal a delegation will be sent to India for the forth-coming Common-wealth games to give her all the needed support in winning gold medals for the country.

Earlier in her testimony Blessing Okagbare said she decided to come for the thanksgiving as her little way to thank God for all His mercies towards her this year in all the athletics meets she has taking part in especially the just concluded African Athletics Championship.She said that she will always do her best to make the country proud.