22 October 2008
Lagos — The untiring efforts of Chika Chukwumerije at the last Beijing Olympic Games in China will be recognised today at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, as the Olympian will be honoured at a reception to be chaired by former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Audu Ogbeh.
For being the first African to win an Olympic medal in Taekwondo the 24-year-old mechanical engineering graduate, will be showered will accolades by dignitaries that will grace the occasion.
For Chukwumerije, the honour is a welcome one, as he had to endure pain to make Nigeria proud in China. "I feel humbled that my effort is being recognised by some people and I am grateful to God for helping me to do my country proud in China. Sincerely, I really appreciate the committee and I want to say that this will encourage other athletes to work hard."
The chairman of the Chika Chukwumerije Olympic Reception Committee, Senator Ben Obi described Chukwumerije, as an example of a patriot Nigerian, who gave all his best to inscribe Nigeria's name in the history of martial arts globally.
Obi, said it is worthy of note to honour Chukwumerije, to encourage Nigerian youths to always aspire high in whatsoever they are doing. "It is clear that Chika could have won the gold medal in taekwondo event at the Beijing Olympic Games. But it was obvious that he was politically robbed in Beijing.
We are honouring him for becoming the first black man to win an Olympic medal in martial art. His efforts was not only in sports, but he was able to show that in his academic which serves as a lesson for other athletes that it is good to excel in both sports and academic at the same time. We want him (Chika) to know that we are indeed behind him and to encourage our youths to always aspire high in whatsoever they are doing."
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