NAN-S-4
Renovation
By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Lagos, July 3, 2017 (NAN) The renovation of the dilapidated gymnasium in the National Stadium, Lagos will bring tremendous improvement to the sport in the country, some athletes told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday.
The athletes expressed delight at the on-going renovation while speaking with NAN in Lagos.
NAN reports that Friesland Campina WAMCO Nigeria PLC, makers of Peak Milk, took up the project as part of its corporate social responsibility to the Nigeria Para-Powerlifting Federation (NPPF).
The project, which took-off on June 13, will cover working stations such as training equipment, changing room for the users before and after training, convenience and generator set.
The partnership also includes provision of nutritional support which started in December 2016 with a monthly supply of Peak Milk to the team.
Oluwafemi Folashade, 86kg 2012 Paralympic gold medallist, described the renovation as a welcome development and the best thing that has ever happened to the lifters who had been training under discomfort.
Folashade, who applauded the milk company for coming to their rescue, said that the renovated gymnasium would go a long way to boost athletes’ zeal for training.
“I just thank God and appreciate Peak Milk for responding to our cry; I believe that our days of training in and out of competitions under adversity are over, ’’she said.
Tolulope Taiwo, also a paralympian, told NAN that Peak Milk has brought light to the sport, which by extension will boost the morale of the Para-lifters that make use of the gymnasium.
“Now we are training outside because of the work going on in the gymnasium and we don’t mind because it is something that we have been praying for.
“The joy of the whole thing is that very soon, our gymnasium will be comparable with those we make use of when we travel for international competitions,’’ he said.
In the same vein, Bose Omolayo, 2016 gold medallist in the women’s -79kg Powerlifting event, applauded Peak Milk for the initiative and charged other corporate organisations to emulate them.
Omolayo said that the project was a significant way of identifying with the Para-lifters in their quest to bring honour to the nation in major competitions.
“We have many needs; Peak milk have set the ball rolling, so we expect other companies to also come and do something like the sponsorship of competitions,’’she said.
Paul Kehinde, world record holder with a 220 kg lift in the men’s -65 kg in powerlifting told NAN that he was impressed by the tremendous support being offered by the company.
Kehinde said that the organisation started its association with the athletes since December 2016 and have consistently provided milk for the athletes, by distribution on monthly basis in the National Stadium, Lagos.
“Our coach, Are Feyisetan approached Peak milk and other organisations for support, so in December, they visited us in the gym and since then we have been enjoying them,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, Dayo Bulus, Secretary of the Nigeria Para-Powerlifting Federation (NPPF) told NAN that the wind of change was blowing in the direction of the sport.
Bolus said that the current renovation of the dilapidated gymnasium would be completed in August.
NAN reports that the gymnasium, alongside other structures in the National Stadium, Lagos, was built in 1972 by the Gen. Yakubu Gowon-led military government.(NAN)
MIL/ERO/SOA
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Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Oluwole Sogunle