Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, on Thursday, at the Government House, Lafia, hosted the State’s Tennis players who participated at the Late Alhaji Isah Adewale Memorial Junior Tennis Championship in Lagos and the North-Central Zonal U-12, U-14 and U-16 Tennis Tournament held in Jos, Plateau State, both of which took place in August, 2022.
The Tennis players were joined by the winner of the Miss World Beauty Pageant, Nigeria, Queen Otu Magdalene, who represented Nasarawa State at the contest sponsored by Fame World Empire in Abuja in April, 2021.
In his remarks, Governor Sule said,
“Let me first congratulate the Miss World, Nigeria, 2021-2023, for what you have done and to also commend you for not forgetting where you came from, especially remembering that you grew up here in Nasarawa State and you want to contribute to Nasarawa State.
“That’s how it’s supposed to be because that’s the spirit of this administration in order to make people feel at home and give back to the society that made them.
“You have picked the right subject matter to focus on and we look forward to how you want us to support you in whatever you want to do in the State and for the benefit of our people.
“To the Tennis players, especially those who won individual medals and awards, I commend and congratulate you very strongly for the achievements and for the pride you have brought to our State.
“I pray for you to succeed in your chosen career.”
He disclosed that the great strides the State’s sports personalities are making should make every citizen of the State feel more energised to do more and achieve greater in their different endeavours.
The Governor thanked sports administrators in the State and beyond for their numerous roles for the development of sports and talents, calling on them to sustain the momentum.
He urged parents to support their children or wards in nurturing their sporting talents as sport, the world over, has become a major source of income.
Governor Sule reiterated his administration’s continuous commitment to sports and talent development for better productivity and prosperous society.
The number one Citizen of the State, thereafter, rewarded eleven year-old prodigy, Ismaila Shuaibu, with the cash sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira(₦250,000.00) for winning Bronze medal and an additional Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira(₦250,000.00) for winning the Fair Play Award.
Musa Ali was given the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Naira(₦200,000.00) for winning Bronze medal while the entire team was rewarded with the sum of Three Hundred Thousand Naira(₦300,000.00) for participating at the two tournaments and to feel encouraged.
Previously, State’s Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Amb. Lucky Isaac Yargwa, who presented the athletes and Beauty Queen, told the Governor that Team Nasarawa State emerged third best performer behind Oyo and Lagos States, respectively, at the Late Alhaji Isah Adewale Memorial Junior Tennis Championship which ran from 1st-8th August, 2022 with Musa Ali winning an individual Bronze medal and a Tennis racket for his outstanding performance.
States of the Federation and FCT, Abuja, participated at the Championship.
He also stated that Team Nasarawa came 3rd position behind Benue and FCT, Abuja, at the North-Central Zonal U-12 U-14 and U-16 Tennis Tournament held in Jos, Plateau State, from 15th-20th August, 2022, disclosing that eleven year-old Ismaila Shuaibu scooped two individual awards which include one Bronze medal and a Fair Play Award.
North-Central Zonal Coordinator of the Nigeria Tennis Federation, Barrister Nuhu Ayuba, presented a letter appointing the Governor as ‘Patron’ of the Federation in the Zone.
He revealed that the giant strides of the Governor in Tennis had convinced the Nigeria Tennis Federation to grant Nasarawa State the hosting rights for the next Zonal Tennis Championship.
Miss World, Nigeria, Beauty Queen, Otu Magdalene, informed the Governor that she would be embarking on a pet project in the State with the theme, “Impacting Young Minds For a Better Society.”
She emphasized that her aim was to promote the socio-intellectual and physical development of young people, especially girls, through brainstorming, through debates in schools.
Highlight of the special reception was the presentation of the awards won by the athletes and tennis souvenirs to the Governor.
