The 7th National Youth Games has been living up to expectations in terms of performances from the young athletes.
Interestingly, their parents are also not left out of the proud moments as some parents, especially mothers have been with their wards from the start of the competition.
Without stealing the spotlight from their wards, these mothers have projected their wards and also set examples for others in subsequent games.
Beverley Agbakoba-Onyejianya
Mother of Durotimi Babatunde, who won two gold and one bronze medal for Team Bayelsa in swimming as well. Babatunde won gold medals in the 50m and 100m freestyle and added a bronze in the mixed-medley relay.
Aside from watching her son shine, she spoke glowingly about the essence of the Youth Games.
“The number of children was the first thing that amazed me. And they are so engaging and vibrant. There is this friendship among them that you can’t tell they are from different parts of the country,” she said.
“It’s also a time for community. We had dinner together with the children, took pictures and did sight-seeing in Asaba. It was fun.”
Funmi Babatunde
A sports lawyer, policy adviser and football club owner, it is not a surprise to find the daughter of the renowned human rights lawyer Olisa Agbakoba in the sports spectacle.
In Asaba, she has been with her daughter, Olaana Onyejianya who was among athletes that stole the show in the swimming event by winning all shades of medals for Bayelsa State.
On Wednesday, she won gold in 100m backstroke, silver in 50m backstroke and bronze in mixed medley.
“It’s been really good. I’ve hit my personal best and I’m really proud of myself and also everyone that has been supporting me through this journey,” Onyejianya said after completing her events.
Her mother Agbakoba-Onyejianya was also proud of her achievements.
“It’s something to be proud of but we have to keep pushing. The kids have all done well and they need to keep breaking those records and keep training,” Agbakoba-Onyejianya.
“I can relate with everything as a parent, as a business person and a lawyer and even from a corporate social responsibility perspective. Sports can be expensive and thanks to the federal government and Delta State for making us feel welcomed. More needs to be done but I’m happy with what I’ve seen,” she added.
Irene Dumuje
Irene is the mother of Edwin Dumuje, a triple gold medallist and a silver medallist in swimming for Team Delta.
Edwin won the 100m butterfly, 200m butterfly and 50m butterfly and also got a silver in the 200m medley relay.
“He is a sporty and active child. He also does football, basketball, tennis and athletics and swimming is one of our passions and we find a balance between them and his academics. For example, now we’ve been away from school for about a week, and we have a lot of catch-up to do,” she said.
Aside from accompanying their wards to the games, another thing these parents have in common is the amount of support they have invested in their children.
“We are still on the journey. It started up as a life skill at the age four plus and he has had different kinds of techniques training, been to different camps in Nigeria and abroad and so we are here,” Irene, mother of Edwin Dumuje said.
“I was inspired by stories of sports stars like Lewis Hamilton who started at the age of six and when I had my kids I said I was going to choose a sport that they were all going to do. Football for the boys and even rugby.
“The future is in God’s hands and it takes consistency. It’s up to her and I will keep supporting her. If she wants to go all the way to the university with sports, she can combine it,” Agbakoba-Onyejianya said.
“He actually was the one who came home and said he wanted to learn how to swim. So, we looked for a facility and a coach four years ago at the national stadium, not too far from our house. He was a late learner but very determined. In four years, it’s a triple honour for the short time we have started,” Funmi, the mother of Durotimi Babatunde, also revealed.
