The Nationwide Sports activities Fee (NSC) Appreciation Tour made a major cease in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Friday as officers of the Fee arrived to have fun and reward excellent younger Nigerian athletes whose dedication and achievements proceed to encourage the nation.
One of many highlights of the go to was the popularity of teenage dash sensation Jacinta Lawrence Andrew, an SS2 scholar of Neighborhood Secondary School, Ibiaku Itam in Itu Native Authorities Space, who has quickly emerged as one in all Nigeria’s most promising younger athletes.
Jacinta made the nation proud on the maiden African School Video games in Algeria the place she received a silver medal within the ladies’ 400 meters, earlier than occurring to assert gold in the identical occasion on the African Youth Video games in Angola.
Not too long ago, she was additionally a part of the elite Nigerian staff that certified the nation for the World Athletics Relays, a outstanding feat for a scholar nonetheless in secondary faculty.
Director Common of the Nationwide Sports activities Fee, Hon. Bukola Olopade, emphasised that the Appreciation Tour represents a brand new period in how Nigeria celebrates and motivates its athletes.
“This Appreciation Tour is about recognizing laborious work, self-discipline, and excellence wherever we discover it throughout the nation. When younger athletes see that their sacrifices and performances are valued, it conjures up them to goal larger and assures them that the nation stands firmly behind them,” Olopade mentioned.
He added that rewarding younger athletes like Jacinta is a crucial a part of the Fee’s long-term imaginative and prescient to strengthen Nigeria’s expertise pipeline and encourage extra younger folks to pursue sports activities whereas balancing schooling.
“Jacinta, identical to others, characterize the way forward for Nigerian sports activities. For somebody nonetheless in secondary faculty to realize a lot on the continental stage reveals the immense potential we have now in our youth, and it’s our duty to nurture and assist them.”
In recognition of her excellent achievements and dedication to the game, the Nationwide Sports activities Fee offered Jacinta with a ₦3 million money reward as a part of the Appreciation Tour’s mission to have fun athletes who’ve distinguished themselves on the worldwide stage.
An emotional Jacinta expressed gratitude for the popularity, saying the gesture will encourage her to work even more durable.
“I’m very grateful to the Nationwide Sports activities Fee for believing in me. This recognition encourages me to maintain coaching and to make Nigeria proud,” she mentioned.
The initiative is a part of the Fee’s effort to acknowledge excellence, encourage rising abilities, and reinforce the significance of grassroots sports activities improvement throughout the nation.
