The Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mr. Sunday Dare, in recognition of the tremendous efforts of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state towards sports development in Nigeria and his support towards the preparations for the 2020 Olympics, has decorated him with an award of honour in Asaba, the Delta State Capital.
The Minister who is in the state on an official visit, while speaking to journalists, said the award was in affirmation of the role the Delta state government has always played to further sports development in Nigeria.
“The award is a symbolic award, it is a validation and recognition of his support to sports development, his support for talent hunts and our athletes.
“It is also very symbolic as we prepare for Tokyo 2020 Olympics and we will be going round to see other sports loving Governors and give them similar awards in order to get them to spread the Olympics spirit and most importantly to support Team Nigeria as they prepare for the Olympics,” he added.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa had before now repeatedly displayed his passion for sports and has continued to do so on several occasions having hosted the Super Eagles prior to AFCON 2019 amongst other sports competitions hosted by the state and will also host the upcoming Super Eagles game against Sierra Leone.
It would be recalled that the Minister has always maintained that grassroots sports development holds the key to Nigeria’s future successes in sporting activities if any is desired and has continued to champion the cause from Lagos State to Benin City to Bayelsa state and now is in Delta for a first hand experience of young talents in the state.