Telecoms
data grandmasters, Globacom, has thrown its weight behind Nigeria's quest to
excel at the next Special Olympic World Summer Games slated for Abu Dhabi,
capital of the United Arab Emirates, from Thursday, March 14 to Thursday, March 21, 2019.
Nigeria
will join other 171 countries to compete for medals in track and field events,
featuring athletes with intellectual disabilities; among them being those with
Autism, Down's Syndrome and several forms of learning disorders.
To
boost the Nigerian contingent’s performance at the games, Globacom is
sponsoring some of the team members to the Olympics. At a brief presentation ceremony at its Mike
Adenuga Towers head office in Lagos on Wednesday, the company presented cheques
to three of the beneficiaries.
The
beneficiaries who received their cheques are Miss Tejumola Ogunlela, aquatics;
Chima Maduakor – Track and field; Oyinkansola Givens Joseph – Badminton.
The
donation is meant to cover the cost of
training and travel for the individual athletes.
Presenting
the cheques to the athletes, Globacom’s Executive Director of Legal Services,
Mrs. Gladys Talabi said that it was not the first time the company was
supporting the Nigerian Contingent to the Special Olympics, recalling that in
2011, Globacom sponsored the Nigerian contingent who returned from Athens in
Greece with a total of 27 medals comprising nine gold, nine silver and nine
bronze medals.
Talabi
said that the company was sponsoring this year’s participation because it
believes in the goals of the games, which include, among other things, to
improve lives of the special children, helping them to reach their full potential, and to create
greater social inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities.
She
commended the young athletes, for their courage and determination even in the
face of disability. According to her it was not compulsory that the team should
win medals, saying that the fact that they were bold enough to dare in spite of
their challenges was victory on its own.
“You are already champions for daring to step out to compete on the
world stage; your spirit and your courage have made you winners,” she said,
adding that Globacom is strongly behind them in their quest to make the country
proud.
Also
speaking on behalf of the Nigerian contigent to the Special Olympics, Mr. Adeola Oladugba was
full of appreciation for Globacom. He promised that the team would make
Globacom, all the sponsors and the nation of Nigeria in general, proud. Mr. Bode Ogunlela, father of one of the
athletes, on behalf of all the parents said that Globacom has contributed to
the happiness of the special children.
The
beneficiaries, who are challenged with different kinds of speech and hearing
impediments, also made brave and bold attempts to express their gratitude to
their sponsors
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