Despite the sociopolitical and economic challenges in the country, Nigerian athletes have continued to do the country proud in their performances at the Common Wealth Games in Birmingham.
Ese Brume has won gold for Team Nigeria in the women’s long jump event of the ongoing Commonwealth Games In Birmingham.
Brume leapt 7.00 metres to break the Commonwealth Games record, winning the event with a jump to spare after doing a no jump, 6.99 metres, 6.81 metres, 6.99 metres and 6.96 metres in her earlier jumps.
Brume has been consistent for Nigeria at this level, having won her first gold medal in the Commonwealth Games in 2014 at 18 before also winning medals at the World Athletics Championship and the Olympics.
The high performances by the team Nigeria prompted the the Nigerian government through the Ministry of Sports to award cash prizes to varying category of winners. Gold medal winners received $5,000, while their coaches were also given $3,000 each.
Taiwo Laidi, a silver medalist in the women’s 76kg Weightlifting event, received $3,000 for her effort.
For bronze medal winners, Edidiong Joseph Umaofia, Islamiyat Yusuf and Mary Osijo, all got $2,000 each for their effort.
The other athletes, who won medals in their various events on Thursday, are expected to be rewarded soon.