22 Nigerian junior athletes get U.S. scholarships, Okowa hosts team

Nigerian athletes

A new crop of Nigerian athletes have started their journey to stardom with academic and sports schoralships to various American universities.

The athletes, 22 in number, represented the country at the recently concluded African U-18 and U-20 Athletics Championships in Ndola, Zambia.

Delta State Governor, Dr. ifeanyi Okowa, on Monday night, treated the athletes to a dinner to celebrate their exploits at the championship.

Team Nigeria, against all odds, won 17 gold, nine silver and seven bronze medals to finish second to South Africa, who topped the medals table based on their numerical strength.

An official, who was in Ndola, told The Guardian, yesterday, that about 22 of the athletes have received scholarship from different universities in the United States.

“Some of them have secured their visas already, and will jet out to the United States soon,” he stated

Earlier at the ceremony, Secretary to the Delta State Government, Patrick Ukah, who represented Governor Okowa, said it was thrilling to see Nigerian juniors performing excellently well at the Championship in Ndola Zambia.

He said Okowa was excited, particularly with the outing of Delta-born athletes in the team. He urged them to build on their success.

“We are overjoyed by your performance in Ndola. You have once again proved that Delta is indeed home of sports in Nigeria.

“We are excited and proud of what you have done, this is just the beginning, we hope to see more achievements in track and field from you,” said Ukah who later announced various awards to the athletes.

Also, speaking at the event, Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, expressed delight with the medal haul.

He added that the athletes painted a picture of what to come in Nigerian track and field.

“I