National Sports Festival: Jonathan splashes N45m on athletes

President Goodluck Jonathan has splashed a total sum of N45 million naira on athletes participating in the 18th National Sports Festival (NSF).
Ably represented by the Vice- President Namadi Sambo, the President stated that N20 million has been earmarked for the overall team at the festival, while N15 million and N10 million naira will be prize monies for the second and third teams respectively.
At the Teslim Balogun Stadium yesterday venue of the opening ceremony of the games, Sambo said the festival since inception has met with its cardinal objectives of fostering unity and friendship among Nigerian youths, and the discovery of budding talents for the future.
“This year’s festival that is being hosted by Lagos State is like home-coming as it all started here in 1973. The Federal Government has donated the sum of N45 million for the first, second and third teams that will emerge at the end of the festival,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) earlier charged athletes and officials alike to compete and judge fairly as winning in any event should not be manipulated in any form.
Fashola further said while Lagos will hope to compete to the medals table, the state will not be desperate to win.
“The ultimate objective of the festival is to discover talents for the future.
The festival have been elevated by previous host but Lagos hope to extend on it. I wish all our visitors an eventful stay,” he said.
Present where, the first Military Governor of Lagos, Mobolaji Johnson, Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, Rotimi Amaechi of River State and other eminent Nigerians.