The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, said he adopted Tobi Amusan some months ago in order to support her career.
The governor stated this in his congratulatory message to Amusan for winning the women’s 100m hurdles gold for Nigeria at the World Athletics Championship 2022.
Amusan’s feat set a new world record in the semifinals of the athletic event, as she becomes the first Nigerian to win a World Championship.
However, Abiodun in a statement he personally authored on Monday said Amusan made the people of Ogun proud.
The governor also wished Amusan greater heights.
Dapo Abiodun said; “We congratulate and rejoice with a proud daughter of Ogun State, whom I adopted some months back to support her career, Ms. Tobi Amusan on her world record-breaking (12.06sec) gold victory in Women’s 100M Hurdles.
“As a State, we are proud of your success and wish you greater heights in the years ahead.”
The governor had on April 26 adopted Amusan.
The adoption followed a visit to the governor by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, whose adopt-a-talent initiative saw state governors, individuals, and corporate bodies adopting some of the Tokyo Olympics athletes by paying money directly to the athletes’ account to support their early preparations for the Games.
Speaking during the courtesy visit by Sunday Dare, Mr. Abiodun said he found it expedient to adopt Amusan not just because she is an indigene of the state, but because she symbolizes the Nigerian spirit of talent and hard work.
Amusan had announced her arrival on the big stage after winning silver in the African Youth Championships in 2013 before capping it with a gold medal at the 2015 African Junior Athletics Championship in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
She won the 2018 Commonwealth and 2019 African champion in the event.
Amusan is also a two-time African Games champ.
She was ranked fourth in the world following her feat at the World Championships in Doha in 2019.
