Blessing Oborududu, Ese Brume Collect Millions from FG Over Olympics Medals
Olympic silver medalist Blessing Oborududu and bronze medalist Ese Brume have been
rewarded with their promised cash of $10,000 and $7500, respectively in a ceremony held at Grand Prince Hotel, Tokyo Japan on Tuesday.
A statement signed by John Joshua-Akanji, Special Adviser, Media to the Honourable Minister, said “Blessing Oborududu and Ese Brume were presented their cash by the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mr. Sunday Dare.”
The statement added that while speaking at the ceremony, the Minister said “There’s no point delaying the reinforcement of these athletes who have made the country proud, that is the reason they were rewarded immediately for their record breaking performance.”
In her reaction, Blessing Oborududu said “I am just super excited and I want to say thank you to all my supporters and the Federal Government of Nigeria for the encouragement”
Blessing Oborududu made history as the first Nigerian wrestler to win an Olympic medal courtesy of the silver medal she won in the women’s 68kg freestyle for which she now gets 10,000 dollars for her efforts.
Ogbomosho agog as Youth and Sports Minister, Sunday Dare installed Agbaakin of Ogbomosho
Long jumper, Ese Brume, who also won Nigeria’s first medal at the Games with a bronze also earned 7,500 dollars reward.
Her medal is the first won in track and field since 2008 at the Beijing Olympics where Blessing Okagbare and the women’s 4x100m relay team won a silver medal each.
Chioma Ajunwa was the first person who won gold medal for Nigeria in the Long at Atlanta 1996.
The Federal Government had earlier promised a reward of 15, 000 dollars, 10,000 dollars, 7,500 dollars for gold, silver and bronze medalists at the Tokyo Olympics.
Simon Ebohdjaiye, Director, Federation and Elite Athletes Department (FEAD), Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development made the promise on Tuesday in Tokyo shortly after wrestler Blessing Oborududu won Team Nigeria’s second medal at the Games.
He said the reward was an upward review from the initial amount announced due to the dedication of the athletes.
“Gold medallist will now be rewarded with 15,000 dollars, while silver and bronze medal winners will each get 10,000 dollars and 7,500 dollars respectively.
The Director said the gesture was to drive home the point that the Federal Government would always reward superlative performance.
