Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games gold medalist in men’s weightlifting 171kg category, Edidiong Joseph Umoafia has showered plaudits on Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Eno and the commissioner for sports, Elder Paul Bassey for motivating his historic achievement.
While also naming National Sports Commission (NSC) director-general, Honourable Bukola Olopade among his benefactors, who inspired him to glory in Glasgow, the 22-year-old lifter from Akwa Ibom State said he was happy for keeping a promise he made before the Games.
Umoafia disclosed that he felt fulfilled to have accomplished the promise he made to Etobong Bassey in his office in the presence of veteran journalist, Keresifon Essien, a week before he left the state’s capital, Uyo, to the national camp ahead of their trip to Scotland.
The hero from Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area further reflected on his achievement at Hydro Arena, Glasgow, where he lifted 147kg in snatch as well as 172kg in the clean and jerk, for a total of 319kg, to clinch the gold medal and set a new Games’ record in his class.
Umoafia, who beat Samoa’s silver medallist, John Lautafi Tafi, who finished with a combined total of 314kg and Nauru’s Ezekiel Moses, who took bronze with 314kg, agreed that he had enacted a milestone for Nigeria and he is now giving thanks to everyone who made it possible.
He retorted in an interview with KSU online: “Honestly, I’m so glad that I made it eventually. That was my target and, as a national champion in the sport of weightlifting, I never rested in training. I focused ahead of this Commonwealth Games and I thank God it’s been accomplished.
“It’s nice to set a new Commonwealth Games record with a gold medal, which is my joy. I must thank my state governor, Pastor Umo Eno, Commissioner of Sports, Honourable (Elder) Paul Bassey and above all, Mr. Olapade, the Director-General of Nigeria Sports Commission, for all their backings.”
