Abdullahi, Ogba Hail Okagbare’s Moscow 2013 Outing

Minister of Sports and Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, has described Blessing Okagbare as "our heroine who is doing the nation proud with her God’s given talent" and therefore should be celebrated.

Okagbare on Sunday had ended Nigeria’s medal drought at the ongoing IAAF World Championships in Athletics which stretched back to Seville’99 World Championship where Gloria Alozie and Francis Obikwelu won a silver medal and bronze medal respectively.

Speaking to reporters, Abdullahi who is in Moscow, Russia, with Team Nigeria's Track and Field team in the Championships said: "We are very proud of her and what she has achieved by putting us on the world stage.


It is not an easy feat to be one of the best three in the world in any event, more so in a highly technical event like the long jump. I congratulate her and every Nigeria who stood by her with the prayers and moral support."

Okagbare was tipped by bookmakers all over the world to win a medal in the 100m based on her splendid performances in the IAAF Diamond League with a record breaking 10.79 sec at the London leg of the league. But she could only place sixth in the final on Monday returning a time of 11.04 sec.

Abdullahi commended Okagbare for her brilliant effort in the 100m, saying: "We are proud of her, she did her best. Personally, I will rather focus more on where she has done very well, that is the silver medal she won in the long jump than the 100m. More than any of us she wanted the 100m medal, all she needs now is support and encouragement to succeed in other events, then future games and championships, I believe we should focus more on her success and celebrate a star who has done us proud at the highest level."

Also, the President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Solomon Ogba, commended Okagbare for her success in the long jump and urged Nigerians to celebrate her.

"She has done well. We as a federation, we are happy that we have a proud athlete that made Nigerians proud. We thank the federal government, the NSC and every Nigerian for their support. I was delighted with the news from home after she won the silver medal in the long jump; the whole country celebrated her feat.

I also thanked the Minister, Mallam Abdullahi. He is a great lover of track and field, either at the grassroots level or the world stage like this. It is on record that he is the first Minister of Sports to attend our Golden League, All Nigeria and even the World Championships, we are grateful to him," said Ogba.

Meanwhile, Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, has called Nigerian camp here to urge World Championships Long Jump silver medallist, Blessing Okagbare, to quickly forget the 100m race and focus on the remaining 200m race.

Uduaghan, the pillar behind the Delta girl, was worried when he heard that Okagbare was too downcast that she openly cried all night here in Moscow.

“You have done well. You are silver medallist. You have done Nigeria proud. You must not be weighed down by the result of the 100m. You still have 200m to do and I want you to focus on it and do your best. You may not be able to do so if you don't put the disappointment behind you and move on. Already, you are a success and that's what should boost your confidence.”

The message boosted Okagbare who has since returned to training.

Uduaghan also spoke to the AFN President, Chief Solomon Ogba and wished the Nigerian contingent success in the remaining races including the relays starting Thursday.