Atlanta ’96 Olympics gold medalist Chioma Ajunwa-Oparah has been presented a house by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu 25 years after her success.
The presentation of a three-bedroom apartment in the Babatunde Raji Fashola Housing Estate, Iponri on Thursday was in fulfilment of the then military government’s pledge.
Ajunwa-Oparah is the first African woman to win a gold medal in the Olympic games field event. She is now an assistant commissioner of police in Lagos.
Mr Sanwo-Olu made the presentation at a reception held for Lagos athletes who participated in the National Sports Festival in Edo State this year.
Lagos State won 125 medals, including 32 gold and 27 silver medals in the contest.
“We will continue to use her (Chioma Ajunwa-Oparah) as a testimony to give women strong voice and good representation in our sport organisations. We have made it compulsory to reserve 30 per cent of positions to our women in boards of sport organisations in Lagos,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Earlier, Ajunwa-Oparah decorated the governor with a replica of her 1996 gold medal.
She described the gesture as a ”motivation” to fulfil her dream in raising a new generation of athletes, adding that the governor’s action had further reinforced her belief in the country.
