2nd Vice President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Aku Aghazu, has hailed Nigeria’s young track and field athletes following their impressive showing at the ongoing 6th Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where the team has so far collected seven medals.
Nigeria’s track squad delivered one gold, three silver, and three bronze medals, with the standout moment coming in the fiercely contested women’s 4x100m relay where Bada Toyin, Ezechukwu Miracle, Omokwe Maria and Nweke Cynthia stormed to gold.
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Aghazu said the performances in Riyadh prove that Nigeria’s new generation of athletes is ready to take centre stage on the global circuit.
“I am so proud of our athletes here in Riyadh, and what I find particularly pleasing is that the bulk of them are youth athletes, not the most experienced ones,” she said.
She praised the bravery and confidence with which the youngsters attacked their events, highlighting the women’s 4x100m relay and the resilience of quartermiler Patience Okon-George, who won silver in the women’s 400m.
Aghazu also commended the men’s 4x100m relay team for battling through a tight field to claim bronze, noting that both relay squads showed “great zeal and patriotism.”
She said the renewed structure of the AFN under President Tonobok Okowa, working closely with the National Sports Commission (NSC), is already yielding results, particularly with athletes discovered through the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) project introduced at the last National Sports Festival.
Aghazu applauded the leadership of the NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, describing their reforms as a major driver of the nation’s athletic resurgence.
Looking ahead, she said Nigeria’s performance in Riyadh is a strong indicator of what to expect at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
“Our athletes will amaze the nation positively,” Aghazu assured.
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