WORLD RENOWNED ATHLETE, FALILAT OGUNKOYA -OMOTAYO IDENTIFIES SPORTS AS SOLUTION TO INSURGENCY

The track and field expert, and one of Nigeria’s most decorated track queen said sports and education should be merged, which she explained would achieve positive results in nation building, as well as discourage the younger ones from crime commission.

Penpushing further reports that, the track queen who has won a number of national championships, including a gold medal in 1996 in the 400 metres, gold in the 200 metres and 400 m in 1998, and gold again in 1999 and 2001 in the 400 m among others recalled that she started her career from secondary school, a determination which brought her to limelight.

The world known athlete emphasized that, if she can make it to the top, from her beginning, other Nigerian youths can surpass her achievements if encouraged by government and their parents, calling on the parents not to discourage their children who show interest in sports

‘Government, parents, individuals and corporate bodies should encourage the children in sports. They should let girl child, boys who show interest in sports go ahead. They should not be discouraged. Through sports, you have helped a nation’, she emphasised

Penpushing also reports that, Falilat who in 1995 at the All Africa Games in Harare  won  silver in the 400 m, and at the 1999 Games in Johannesburg won a gold medal in the 400 m, as well at the 1996 Summer Olympics  won a bronze medal in the 400 m, behind Marie-José Pérec of France and Cathy Freeman of Australia, in a personal best and African record of 49.10, which is currently the twelfth fastest of all time expressed optimism that discovery of talents in Nigeria will make the country great globally.

The World class athlete who was ranked the best in the in 1999 by IAAF, also called on the need for Ministry of Sports in the States, to embrace commission, explaining that, if this is accepted, it is easy for education to merge with sports