The InfoStride Forum

 It was Naira rain for the athletes who represented Oyo State at the 2012 National Sports Festival tagged Eko 2012 and the Paralympics Gold Medalist, Yakubu Adesokan at the week-end, as Governor Abiola Ajimobi splashed them with cash gifts totaling N53,800,000.

Governor Ajimobi presented the cheques to the victorious Team Oyo at the main bowl of the Lekan Salami Stadium at the week-end.

The ceremony was also graced by members of the state executive council, officials of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the State Sports Council as well as other sports lovers in the state.

While Adesokan, who clinched gold in weightlifting at the 2012 Paralympics in London, was presented with a cheque of N4 million and a hajj slot, his coach went home with the sum of N2 million.

Each of the gold medalists at the Eko 2012 also got N750,000, while silver and bronze medalists collected N500,000 and N350,000 each respectively.

Speaking at the occasion, Governor Ajimobi congratulated the athletes for putting up brilliant performances at the London Paralympics and the National Sports Festival and for doing the state proud.

He also said that his government would continue to reward excellence as a means of motivating sports men and women, and developing the sports sector in the state.

The state Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Dapo Lam-Adesina, in his address, thanked Governor Ajimobi for his support to his ministry which, he said, had contributed immensely to the victory so far recorded in sports.