Says Ministry ranks development of young talents as one of its top priorities.
The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh on Tuesday, received rising gymnastic sensation, Stephanie Ogechukwu Onusiriuka, in his office in Abuja, after her outstanding performance at the recently concluded National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State.
The 13-year-old won four gold medals in gymnastics, blazing the trail in the sport and displaying huge potential of promise during the Games.
Senator Enoh congratulated Stephanie for her spectacular achievements and promised that the Ministry would pay close attention to her growth and development.
“I am very proud of you,” Senator Enoh said to the young starlet. “Greater pride and joy is competing for your country and on the national stage. I will be interested in following up with your career, as you develop through the coming years.”
“The country is excited about talents like this. She has demonstrated huge potential and she is a microcosm of the talent abundance in Nigeria. We are enthusiastic and focused on their development and transition, up to the level of one day being Olympians” he added.
At the National Youth Games in Asaba, Stephanie Onusiriuka won gold medals in the gymnastics beam event, floor event, and vault event and topped it with another gold as the best all-around gymnast in the country in Asaba.
At the penultimate National Sports Festival, Edo 2020, the starlet picked up one gold, two silver medals and a bronze medal. At the African Club Championship, Pretoria 2019 and 2022, she picked up a gold medal too.
The Minister of Sports Development warmly received and welcomed the young Stephanie, as well as her mother, Mrs Onwusiriuka, restating his commitment to the core mandates of his leadership.
In a previous address, the Honourable Minister noted that one of his administration’s focus is unearthing and also supporting young talents, who will transition into elite stars in the future.
He concluded that the country must ensure that there is no void in the continuum of progress when current elites begin to draw closer to the twilight of their careers.