Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq welcomed Mariam Eniola Bolaji, a Kwara-born badminton star and Africa’s first Paralympic medalist, to Government House in Ilorin. Eniola, ranked World Number Two, was received with joy and praise by the Governor.
“Your achievements inspire millions of young athletes nationwide, and we’re proud to have you represent our state and country,” said Governor AbdulRazaq.
Eniola is one of many Kwara-born athletes benefiting from the Governor’s support for sports. Recently, he sponsored two underage scrabble players to represent Nigeria at the 2024 World Youths Scrabble Championship in Sri Lanka.
Governor AbdulRazaq described Eniola as a great ambassador for the state, committing to continued support for her career. “We’ll continue to support Eniola and other para-badminton talents every step of the way.”
The Governor also announced plans to build more sports facilities in the state, following the success of recently constructed world-class facilities praised by sports veterans, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Eniola thanked Governor AbdulRazaq for his support, citing his leadership in sports and other sectors as crucial to her success. “I’m grateful for your encouragement and efforts in creating opportunities for athletes like myself,” she said.
