Minister: Nigerian women’s feat at CWG shows they can excel anywhere

Pauline Tallen, minister of women’s affairs, has hailed the performance of Nigeria’s female athletes at the 2022 Commonwealth Games (CWG) in Birmingham. 

The minister lavished the country’s medal-winning female athletes with encomium in a statement on Monday.

Tallen said the feat by the athletes shows the future of this nation “lies in the indomitable spirit of the Nigerian woman.”

Team Nigeria won 12 gold medals — the country’s highest haul in the history of the CWG.

Incredibly, all the gold medals were won by the country’s female athletes who took the tracks and gymnasiums in Birmingham by storm and wrote their names in the annals of the competition.

The feat has been attracting several accolades from stakeholders within and outside the sports industry.

Adding her voice to the celebration, Tallen said the performance showed the possibility of what Nigerian women can achieve in other aspects of life if given the opportunity.

“There is indeed a need to celebrate Nigerian Women and Girls, as they continue to redefine Nigeria in the eyes of the world,” the statement reads.

“As a mother would not allow her home to crumble in any ailing situation, the young women on the Team Nigeria to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham have risen to the challenge of changing the narratives for the image of Nigeria for the best, by hurling in gold medals to place Nigeria on the global arena as the best African Team in the competition

“As I watched these amazing amazons embrace the Nigerian flag with infectious joy, to the amazement of the world, I was more than ever convinced that the future of this Nation lies in the indomitable spirit of the Nigerian woman. If they can do it in sports, they can also bring about a robust and strategic approach in addressing the challenges of the Nigerian State. Women, I should say, hold the ace and must be given the opportunity to showcase their potential.

“And so, with pride as the Nigerian Minister of Women Affairs, I dare to say that in all my experience of Nigeria’s participation in sports at international engagements, the year 2022, which we already tagged as the “Year of Hope” for Nigerian Women and Girls has remained the best for Team Nigeria Athletes, ever with the young women doing us proud.

“Let me therefore commend and congratulate the amazing quartet Women Relay Team of Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma, Grace Nwokocha and the superlative golden girl, Tobi Amusan, who also won another gold medal in the 100m women’s hurdle event. I want to also thank the likes of Ese Brume, Blessing Oborududu, Odunayo Adekuoroye, Adijat Adenike Olarinoye, and Miesinnei Mercy Genesis, Rafiatu Folashade Lawal, Folashade Oluwafemilayo, Eucharia Iyiazi, Chioma Onyekwere and Goodness Nwachukwu who all won gold medals in their events. Not forgetting those who won silver and bronze medals. They remain our Unsung heroines whom we intend to celebrate.

“Please be assured of my commitment to your overall well-being. I had prepared to be there with you physically, but due to an accident, I suffered in the course of my work, it became impossible. I am, however, in touch with the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Otunba Sunday Dare, even as we await your arrival in the country at the end of the event.

“It is heartwarming to know that Team Nigeria won 12 Gold, 9 Silver and 14 bronze medals with the women carting away most of the medals in all categories. Nigerian women and Girls are indeed very proud of you.”