The 7th National Youth Games has been meeting expectations with outstanding performances from young athletes. Interestingly, the parents, particularly mothers, have played a significant role in supporting their children throughout the competition. While not seeking the limelight, these mothers have both promoted their children and provided inspiring examples for future games. One such example is 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 sightseeing 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 the 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 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 to 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 welcome. More needs to be done but I’m happy with what I’ve seen,” she added.
Aidan Dumuje-Abili
Irene is the mother of Aidan Dumuje-Abili, a triple gold medallist and a silver medallist in swimming for Team Delta.
Dumuje-Abili 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 Dumuje-Abili 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 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 honor for the short time we have started,” Funmi, the mother of Durotimi Babatunde, also revealed.
