The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Chief Anthony Adeboye Adeyinka (popularly known as Zulu Authority), has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as the “Golden Touch of Hope”, following the President’s unprecedented reward package for the triumphant Super Falcons of Nigeria.
In the wake of the Super Falcons’ breathtaking comeback victory over host nation Morocco in the final of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), the President awarded each player $100,000, each member of the technical crew $50,000, a 3-bedroom apartment in the Renewed Hope Housing Estate, Abuja, and Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) national honours.
Speaking from Abuja, Chief Adeboye expressed deep admiration for what he called a “transformational moment for Nigerian sports”, praising the President for demonstrating, once again, that rewarding excellence is central to his Renewed Hope Agenda.
“What we witnessed is not just a reward; it’s a powerful message to every young boy and girl in the streets of Nigeria — that dedication, discipline, and excellence will not go unnoticed. I call it the Golden Touch of Hope, because President Tinubu has ignited belief and pride in every Nigerian athlete.”
Chief Adeboye, who is also the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the just-concluded 17th African Armwrestling Championship in Abuja, noted that this weekend marked a double triumph for Nigerian sports — with the Super Falcons lifting their 10th WAFCON trophy in Rabat and Team Nigeria emerging champions in armwrestling on home soil.
“I may not have been in Morocco due to my duties at the armwrestling championship, but my heart was with the Super Falcons every minute. It was a night of double glory for Nigeria, and our President has crowned it with a historic act of recognition and reward.”
He also congratulated Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), and Hon. Bukola Olopade, NSC Director General, for what he called “seamless collaboration and an unrelenting vision for sport elevation.”
Chief Adeboye assured that under President Tinubu’s leadership, grassroots development will not take the backseat:
“We now have a President who not only understands elite competition, but deeply values grassroots sports. This is a new chapter. We will not relent until every community becomes a hub of opportunity for our young athletes.”
He called on private partners, stakeholders, and philanthropists to align with this vision, adding:
“Government cannot do it alone. The President has led by example; now let us all match that energy to build a truly global sporting force — from the grassroots to the world stage.”
As the nation continues to bask in the glow of sporting excellence, Adeboye reaffirmed his unwavering dedication to driving the President’s grassroots sports development agenda to every corner of the federation.
