The Adoption Campaign as initiated by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mr. Sunday Dare, has continued to record tremendous successes as more individuals and corporate entities have continued to indicate interest in the Initiative.
In recognition of the fact that athletes’ welfare is paramount if any meaningful success would be recorded and that the Government can not do it alone, the Minister launched the Campaign last year with Adopt an Athlete as one of its main focuses, to encourage a mutually beneficial private sector partnerships in sports. An athlete is adopted by an individual and corporate body with the aim of providing support through funding for the athlete’s welfare and training especially towards the preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
This, the Minister believes will in addition to lifting the spirits of the athletes, spur them to give their best performances to register Nigeria’s name on the medal table come Olympics 2020. It could be recalled that team Nigeria has not had any successful outings at international events in recent times.
Below are athletes who have being adopted by some spirited Nigerians and corporate organizations:
Home based athletes Joy Udo Gabriel and Praise Idamadudu were adopted by the Tunde Folawiyo Group While Halogen adopted Adekuoroye Odunayo. Ruth Usoro who was adopted by the chairman of Dakinda Football for Every home LIMITED Mr.Emmanuel Akpakwu.
Other adopted athletes are: Amusan Tobi, Ese Brume, Favour Ofili, Raymond Okevwo, Enoch Goke, patience George Okon, Adeniyi Aminat, Usheorise Itshekiri, Blessing Oborududu and Mercy Ita, with some adopting individuals and organisations declining to be mentioned.
The Adoption Campaign also got a boost recently with the backing of the President, Muhammadu Buhari who gave support for the initiative at the recent flagging off of the movement of the Torch of Unity for Edo 2020, at the Presidential villa in Abuja.
