Skip to main content

SPORTS MINISTER CELEBRATES NIGERIA’S INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY, SAYS SPORTS REMAINS BIGGEST NATIONAL UNIFIER

 


SPORTS MINISTER CELEBRATES NIGERIA’S INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY, SAYS SPORTS REMAINS BIGGEST NATIONAL UNIFIER


_“We have reasons to celebrate our achievements in sports since 1960”_


The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh joins all Nigerians to celebrate our dear Nation’s 63rd Independence Anniversary.


Senator Enoh stated that since 1960, Nigeria has made its mark amongst the comity of nations in the world of sports, with thousands of historic moments to note.


The Minister said “On this notable day of our Independence Anniversary, we cannot but reflect on how sports has been the biggest unifier of our country, as we think about the innumerable historic moments of our heroes past, they provoke nostalgic memories of our greatness.”


While this list is not close to being exhaustive, find below some historic sporting achievements Nigeria and Nigerians have recorded since 1960.


1. NIGERIA WINS ITS FIRST OLYMPIC MEDAL


In 1964, Nigeria proudly won its first Olympic Games medal, through the gloves of Light Middleweight boxer, Nojeem Maiyegun at the Tokyo 1964 Olympics.


2. MOST SUCCESSFUL NATION AT THE FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP


Nigeria is the most successful nation in the history of the U-17 FIFA World Cup. The Golden Eaglets have won the championship a record 5 times. In 1985, 1993, 2007 2013, and 2015, Nigeria emerged world champions.


3. ATLANTA '96 FOOTBALL GOLD MEDAL


At the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, USA, Nigeria became the first African country to win a gold medal in the football event of the Olympics. Not only did we win the gold medal, we defeated some of the best nations in the world, on our way to the histroice feat. 


4. D'TIGERS WINS FIRST-EVER FIBA AFROBASKET TITLE


In 2015, Nigeria's Senior Men's Basketball team lifted the FIBA AfroBasket to emerge champions of Africa for the first time in history. 



5. NIGERIA'S WELLINGTON JIGHERE EMERGES WORLD SCRABBLE CHAMPION 


In 2015, Nigeria's Wellington Jighere was crowned World Scrabble Champion, after winning the World Scrabble Championship in his third attempt. He became the first African to occupy the title.


6. NIGERIA'S CHIOMA AJUNWA WINS LONG JUMP GOLD MEDAL AT 1996 OLYMPICS


Chioma Ajunwa made Nigeria proud as she became the first African woman to win a gold medal in a field event at the Olympics.


7. RICHARD DICK TIGER IHETU BECOMES FIRST AFRICAN TO WIN WORLD TITLE


Dick Tiger, also known as Richard Ihetu won the WBA World Middleweight Title in 1962, becoming the first African to win a world title in boxing.


8. NIGERIA HOSTS REST OF THE WORLD FOR U-2O WORLD CUP


Nigeria successfully hosted the rest of the world during the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 1999.


9. SUPER FALCONS MOST SUCCESSFUL NATIONAL TEAM IN AFRICA


Nigeria's Senior Women's National Team won a record-extending 11th African Women's Cup of Nation to add colour to their title of being the most successful national football team in Africa, both male and female combined.


10. D'TIGRESS CONQUERS AFRICA FOUR TIMES IN A ROW


Nigeria's senior women's basketball team extended their three peat record in 2023, by winning the FIBA Afro Women's basket to become 4 time consecutive champions of Africa


11. NIGERIAN WRESTLERS IN GOLD RUSH AT COMMONWEALTH GAMES


Nigerian wrestlers, Odunayo Adekuoroye and Blessing Obordudu stromed to gold medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games to continue Nigeria's success in Wrestling at the world stage.


12. OLUSOJI FASUBA SETS AFRICAN 100M RECORD


Olusoji Fasuba set the record of 9.85s at the Doha Grand Prix in May 2006, thus breaking the record of 9.86seconds set in 1996 for the fastest man in Africa.


 13. NIGERIA'S TOBI AMUSAN BREAKS 100M HURDLES WORLD RECORD


in 2022, Nigeria's Tobi Amusan broke the women's 100m hurdles world record with a time of 12.12 second, before going on to winn god at the World Athletics Championships iOregon, USA


14. NIGERIA'S VICTOR OSIMHEN WINS TOP SCORER PRIZE, ITALIAN SCUDETTO


Nigeria's Victor Osimhen won the highest goalscorer award in the Italian Serie A, helping Napoli win the scudetto for the first time in 33 years. He has gone on to become the highest scoring African in the Italian topflight.


15. PAUL KEHINDE SHATTERS WORLD RECORD IN POWERLIFTING 


Paul Kehinde, a Nigerian Powerlifter broke the men’s 65kg World Record at the 2016 Rio Games, to win the gold medal. The Powerlifter then lifted a whopping 220 kg to break the world record he held.


“We have reasons to celebrate our sports men and women, heros and heroines, both local and international” Senator Enoh said. “Thousands of them have represented the country and has enhanced our global image. On this day, we celebrate their efforts and humongous sense of patriotism.”


SIGNED: 


The Media Office of the Honourable Minister of Sports Development.

October 1, 2023.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2023 LSFA/BETWGB Lagos FA Cup Getting Hotter

Akinkunle Bolarinwa  The second round of matches were concluded at the ongoing Lagos State FA Cup competition and more upsets are expected before the last eight games. Organisers have seen tremendous improvements in team's participation and crowd turnouts. However, top clubs keep their eye on the prize as the competition goes into crucial stages. Here-under are results of the second round of matches. *Results of 2nd Round Matches at Maracana Stadium, Ajegunle on Friday, March 03, 2023* 1. G12 1 Vs 0 BYT Academical 2. Utility Sports 2(5) Vs 2(4) Ecas FC 3. Synergy Ultimate FC 4 Vs 3 Emmydinho FC 4. Raymond Remmy FC 4 Vs 1 FC Robo Warriors FT; Nigeria Naval Stadium; 5. Sporting Club Heritage FC 0 Vs 3 Admiralty FC 6. Lekki United FC 2(3) Vs 2(4) Young Stars FC (Pen) 7. M.22 FC 0 Vs 3 North York FC
Post a Comment
Read more

13th African Games:Minister of Sports Development Charges Athletes to Conquer Africa

13th African Games:Minister of Sports Development Charges Athletes to Conquer Africa _Says Nigeria is solidly behind them_ The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh on Tuesday the 5th of March charged Nigeria’s contingent to the All Africa Games taking place in Ghana to conquer Africa.  Addressing the athletes onboard the aircraft scheduled to take them to Ghana for the tournament shortly before takeoff at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, the Minister assured them that the entire nation was solidly behind them.  He further stated that although some of the athletes may be representing the country for the first time, the tournament affords them the opportunity to make the nation proud. Senator Enoh urged the departing athletes to build on the strong performance of the country in the previous games by posting a strong performance that will ensure that Nigeria emerges the best in Africa. “ Let me remind you that you carry the hopes and as...
Post a Comment
Read more

NPFL - STARTIMES DEAL: MALLAM SHUAIBU GARA GOMBE MISLEADING THE SPORTS INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA

NPFL - STARTIMES DEAL: MALLAM SHUAIBU GARA GOMBE MISLEADING THE SPORTS INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA My attention is seriously drawn to the fact that Mallam Gara Gombe clearly shows in his recent submission to the Guardian that he has ill interests and it isn't only about fighting for the interest of local football but also trying to show that he deserves to be the one leading Nigerian football through his open statements against the NPFL leadership he referred to as illegitimate in one of his recent releases. Remember, "what is good for the goose is also good for the garner." It is a fact he desires to get to the top of football leadership in Nigeria and he might feel at this point he alone has the monopoly of football administrative knowledge. Wouldn't you expect others to deliberately begin to employ similar tactics to topple your leadership too?  Gara Gombe said; quote: "Because Nigeria is a dumping ground you illegally appoint people to manage a league they know nothi...
Post a Comment
Read more