Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has announced a reward package for athletes that represented the state at the 2022 National Sports Festival held at Asaba, Delta State. Bayelsa placed a historic second behind Delta, surpassing its earlier best position of third recorded at the 2020 festival hosted by Edo State in 2021. Governor Diri, who received the state’s contingent on Wednesday inside the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House, Yenagoa, recalled that Bayelsa won 109 gold, 104 silver and 87 bronze medals. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, the governor announced one million naira each to individual gold medallists and N750,000 each for team gold. He also rewarded individual silver medallists with N500,000 and N300,000 for team silver medallists while individual bronze medallists got N300,000 and N150,000 for each team bronze medallist. Coaches and secretaries of gold medal teams got N500,000 each while their assistants got N300,000 each. Those in silver category N300,000 each and their assistants N200,000. The governor also rewarded non-medallists with N50,000 each.

He equally announced automatic employment for those yet to be employed in the state sports council and directed the Ministry of Youth and Sports to work out the modalities. His words: “You have broken your own record and now Bayelsa is the number two sporting state in Nigeria. Your record and the state’s exploits in football and other sporting activities have resulted in my being nominated as the Best Sports Governor in Nigeria. That award will be dedicated to all of you. Let us continue to raise the image of the state like you did in Asaba.” Earlier, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Daniel Igali, said Bayelsa was the only state that rewarded its athletes instantly at the games, which inspired them to exceed their target. While thanking the governor for approving funds for the contingent, Igali stated that the team broke six records in swimming in the men and women categories as well as in weightlifting. He stressed that as one of the premier sporting states in the country, there was need to upgrade its sporting facilities in order to be able to host the National Sports Festival in no distant time.

Sports Minister endorses Sportsville Award!

Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, has commended the organisers of the annual Sportsville Special Recognition Award for its credibility and for creating a forum to celebrate those at the forefront of sports development in the nation. According to the Minister, recognition of this nature will spur more Nigerians to do more for the country. Chief Dare, a recipient of the prestigious award last year, has promised to grace the ceremony with the full compliment of his top Management staff. “Be rest assured that I will be there in person to be part of this timely and noteworthy event,” he said in his acceptance notice to Chair the event. He adds…”The award aligns with my vision for sports development in Nigeria by encouraging individuals and corporate organisations to join hands with government to take our sports to the desired height as government alone cannot do it. “You can see how our involvement of individuals and companies through the Adopt An Athlete Initiative is yielding positive results,” the Minister explained. CEO of Sportsville, Hon. Frank Ilaboya in a statement thanked the Honorable Minister for identifying with the Award and promised that the annual award will continue to add value to the Minister’s initiative to celebrate excellence in the sports industry.

“I want to thank the Honorable Minister of Sports for accepting to not only grace the event but to play the Chairmanship role on the night. “We’re glad that the Number One figure in Nigeria sports is endorsing the event. This means so much to us as an organisation and we want to sincerely appreciate the Minster,” an excited Ilaboya added. The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt Hon Philip Shaibu, will also be joining the Minister as the Special Guest of Honour. Over 16 personalities and corporate organisations have been listed for this year’s award. Topping the list of those to be honored at this year’s event are Governors Douye Diri of Bayelsa State and his Lagos State counterpart, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. The First Lady of Edo State, Mrs Betsy Obaseki, and the Deputy Chief of Staff to Imo State Governor and one time Director General of the National Sports Commission, Dr Patrick Ekeji, are also part of the distinguished awardees. This year’s award comes up on Saturday, February 4th, 2023 at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja.