Okowa: We Owe Tinubu and NSC The Responsibility to Deliver World Relays Tickets
President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Tonobok Okowa, has urged Team Nigeria athletes competing at the Lefika International Relays in Gaborone, Botswana, to justify the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Sports Commission by securing qualification for the World Relays Championships.
Arriving in Gaborone on Friday, Okowa went straight to the Emerald Hotel to meet the athletes, reminding them that their mission was not for sightseeing but to deliver results.
He emphasized that the unprecedented backing from the government and the Commission must be repaid with strong performances.
‘We desire to have as many teams as possible at the World Relays Championships. The President and the Commission have supported sports development tremendously, particularly athletics. We owe them the responsibility to deliver. To whom much is given, much is expected,’ Okowa said.
The Nigerian High Commission in Botswana also showed solidarity, with Head of Chancery Temilade Helen Shelowo and First Secretary Mercy Imodor visiting the team and providing food items.
They encouraged the athletes to fly the Nigerian flag high in Saturday’s competition.
Nigeria will compete in four events namely the men’s 4x100m, mixed 4x100m, men’s 4x400m, and mixed 4x400m relays, aiming to secure tickets to the World Relays Championships scheduled for May in Gaborone. The women’s 4x100m and 4x400m teams have already booked their places.
