The Sun award a blessing to my career – Blessing Okagbare

Africa’s ‘Queen of the Tracks’ and Nigeria’s athletic sensation, Blessing Okagbare, yesterday described the Sportsman of the Year Award 2014 bestowed on her by The Sun Publishing Limited as an honour and blessing to her sporting career.

Okagbare, who spoke in Asaba, shortly after being presented with the letter officially intimating her of the award by two General Editors of The Sun, Mrs. Funke Egbemode and Mr. Kunle Solaja, said: “I want to thank The Sun for this, and I accept the award. It is an honour and a blessing to my career, especially to my loved ones in Delta State.

“It is an amazing feeling to receive this letter and to say that I am a proud Nigerian, especially from this state (Delta) and it is all because of the support, the love and the care you have shown me so far.”

Speaking earlier, before presenting the letter, Solaja explained that Okagbare’s impressive outing at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games cannot be ignored.

He stated that the track star’s exploits at the games was an indication that she was ready to shoulder “aspiration of over 160 million Nigerians on track, and we also look forward to even greater performance when the Rio 2016 Olympics will be on.”

Solaja added: “You won the women’s 100 metres in Commonwealth Games at a record of 10.85 seconds, at your first appearance in the competition. Last year, you also won a silver medal at the long jump and 200 metres bronze medal at the IAAF championship. I congratulate you on behalf of the board and management of The Sun Publishing Limited. I also congratulate the Delta State government for contributing to the success that the entire continent is celebrating.”

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who hosted the ceremony at the Government House, Asaba, said Okagbare was one of the products of his administration’s human capital development, insisting that the state government will continue to encourage talents across various fields.

Mrs. Egbemode had explained that the presentation was taking place at the Government House to appreciate the state government’s efforts in developing the human capital

She said: “The agenda to develop not just the resources of the state but also the people and the efforts of this administration has helped Blessing to pull herself up by her bootstraps and to get to where Delta can celebrate her. Nigeria is celebrating her and the world knows that there is a Nigerian, who they cannot ignore on the track.

“She has done us proud because Delta State and its cabinet have done their duty and delivered on their promise that it will develop the human capital of the state. This is our reason for doing this here because we must give credit to whom it is due.”

The Sun Awards 2014 will hold on Saturday, January 17, 2015 at the Eko Hotels & Suites. The event is scheduled to start at 3pm.