31 Years After, PMB Rewards 1985 Golden Eaglets With N2m Each

President Muhammadu Buhari today Thursday, January 21, fulfilled his promise to reward the world-cup-winning golden eaglets.The teams who won the 1985 FIFA championship when he was military Head of State.

 Buhari who hosted the players 31 year after the Golden Eaglets won the Under 17 World Cup, President Muhammadu Buhari rewarded the players with N2 million each and N1.5m each for the team's coaches.

It will be recalled that Buhari was the military head of state when the team won the World Cup in 1985.

President Buhari also donated cash prizes to athletes who distinguished themselves last year.

Speaking at a reception for Nigerian athletes and officials who did the nation proud at international competition at the Banquet Hall,Presidential Villa, President Buhari said Nigerian athletes, despite prevailing challenges, have always proven to the rest of the world that the Nigerian spirit is indomitable.

According to him, the reason for the 30 years delay is well known, he,however lamented that a member of the 1985 Golden Eaglets  Kingsley Aikhionbare passed away in London, in 1996.

He directed   the late Aikhionbare's Next of Kin to collect his money on behalf of his family.

He said,"It is a well known fact that so much water has passed under the bridge between 1985 and now. The State governments that were to implement most of the pledges to the players and officials have changed hands so many times under different dispensations and political parties.

"In line with our belief that the "labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain" we will be saying thank you to our 1985 Golden Eaglets' players and officials by using the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports template for rewarding outstanding athletes. "
 

" As you are all aware, the financial resources of our nation have been dwindling since last year. Hence what we are offering you today, is not payment or compensation for winning laurels for your country, rather, it is a token of appreciation for your efforts and patriotism while competing for your fatherland. "

 LEADERSHIP reported  that there was a mild drama  when President Buhari mistakenly announced rewards of N200m each for the players.

However , Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, mounted the podium to correct the error.

 The victorious 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, Buhari announced rewards of N1.2m each for the players; N900,000 for the Head Coach; N300,000 for Team Secretary and medical team as well as N200,00 each for other officials.

For the team that won gold medal in the 2015 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal, the players and Head Coach got N500,000 each; while assistant coaches and other team officials got N300,000 each.

 
Adekoroye Odunayo who won bronze medal in the 2015 World Championship in Las Vegas got N1.2m for her effort while her coaches, Aku Purity and Daniel Igali got N600,000 each.

For D'Tigers that won gold medal in the 2015 Male Afro-Basketball Tournament in Tunisia, the players and the coaches got N600,000 each while team officials got N250,000 each.

The President also announced rewards for the team that won silver medal in the 2015 FIBA Africa U-16 Female Championship in Madagascar, saying the players and coaches will get N400,000 each while team officials will get N150,000 each.

For the 2015 IPC Asian Open International Powerlifting Championship in Almaty-Kazakhstan, the gold medalists were promised N600,000 each; silver medalists and coaches got N450,000 each while team officials got N250,000 each.

Wellington Jighere who won gold medal in the 2015 World English Language Scrabble Championship in Peth-Australia got N1.5m; his Coach, Anthony Ikolo got N1.2m while the Team Secretary, Makano Adamu got N450,000.

Olanrewaju  Durodola who won the WBC Cruiser title was also rewarded with N1.5m.

Although the names and pictures of Onye Lauritta who won gold medal in F40 shotput at the IPC Athletics Grand Prix in Qatar and those or her Coach, Analto Patrick; and the team secretary, Olabisi Aziz, were included in the event's brochure, no reward was announced for them.

President Buhari  expressed  appreciation to the  athletes and officials for the consistency, determination, willpower and penchant for success being witnessed in the sports sector in recent times.

He assured the athletes  that the Federal Government  would not relent in its efforts to ensure that the country ‘s sportsmen and women continue to excel in international competitions.

He urged  the managers of the sports sector to keep up the momentum.

" I wish to assure you that the Federal Government of Nigeria would not relent in its efforts to ensure that our sportsmen and women continue to excel in international competitions.

" I am particularly concerned about our participation at the forthcoming Rio 2016 Olympic Games. We must not allow a repetition of the unsavoury experience at the London 2012 Olympics where Nigerian athletes failed to make it to the podium. "
 

He added that, "This Administration's policy of "change" must reflect in the way we do things either as individuals or institutions.

" We must strive to be prudent in the way we manage our time, financial and material resources to ensure victory at the next Olympics. We must aim for optimal performance at all international competitions. 

"Your Excellencies, Great Nigerian Athletes, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to remark that today's event is very special to me because, Almighty Allah has, in His infinite mercies and love, kept me alive to this day and granted me the privilege of being able to fulfill my promise in 1985, to reward the winners of the maiden edition of the FIFA Under-17 World Championship.

 In this connection, I have the honour, on behalf of the Government and sports loving Nigerians to announce the following as token of our appreciation to our sports ambassadors:

2015 World Wrestling Championship
Beneficiaries
Amount

Wrestler (Bronze Medallists)
N1,200,000.00

Coaches
N600,000.00

FIBA 2015 Male Afro-Basketball Champion, D'Tigers
Beneficiaries
Amount

Players (Gold Medallists)
N600,000.00

Coaches
N600,000.00

Team Officials
N250,000.00

2015 FIBA Africa Under 16 Female Championships
Beneficiaries
Amount

Players (Silver Medallists)
N400,000.00

Coaches
N400,000.00

Team Officials
N150,000.00

2015 IPC Asian Open International Powerlifting Championship
Beneficiaries
Amount

Gold Medallists
N600,000.00

Silver Medallists
N450,000.00

Coaches
N450,000.00

Team Officials
N250,000.00

World English Language Scrabble Champion
Beneficiaries
Amount

Player (Gold Medallist)
N1,500,000.00

Coach
N1,200,000.00

Team secretary
N450,000.00

WBC Silver Cruiser Weight Title
Beneficiary
Amount

Winner (Title Holder)
N1,500,000.00

2015 CAF Under 23 Cup Of Nations Champions
Beneficiaries
Amount

Players (Gold Medallists)
N500,000.00

Head Coach
N500,000.00

Assistant Coaches
N300,000.00

Other Team Officials
N300,000.00

2015 FIFA Under 17 Male Football Champions
Beneficiaries
Amount

Players (Gold Medallists)
N1,200,000.00

Head Coach
N900,000.00

Assistant Coaches
N600,000.00

Team Secretary
N300,000.00

Medical Team
N300,000.00

Other Officials
N200,000.00

1985 FIFA Under 17 Male Football Champions
Beneficiaries
Amount

Players (Gold Medallists)
N2,000,000.00

Coaches
N1,500,000.00

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