Esther Nworgu, a Seventh-day Adventist athlete, was congratulated by Onyebuchi Opara, president of the Eastern Nigeria Union Conference (ENUC) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, on her remarkable achievement of winning Nigeria's first gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.
The 24-year-old athlete made history by breaking the Games record twice during the Lightweight Para Powerlifting competition. Nworgu started with a successful 118kg lift, scoring 114.1 points that set a new event record. Minutes later, she lifted 123kg and broke her own record by scoring 119 points to secure the gold medal.
Opara described Nworgu's victory in the Lightweight Para Powerlifting event as a powerful testimony of discipline, perseverance, and dedication. He noted that her record-breaking performance has brought honor to Nigeria and joy to the Adventist family across the country and beyond.
"Esther's achievement reminds us that with commitment and hard work, God can use our gifts to create impact and inspire others. Her success is proof of the values we uphold as a church—excellence, discipline, humility, and service," he said.
Opara encouraged Nworgu to continue being a positive ambassador of Christ through her sporting career.
Photo: West-Central Africa Division Facebook
Photo: West-Central Africa Division Facebook
Photo: West-Central Africa Division Facebook
Photo: West-Central Africa Division Facebook
Photo: West-Central Africa Division Facebook
Photo: West-Central Africa Division Facebook
"Your victory is a testimony that inspires young people and reminds everyone that challenges do not define our destiny. Through dedication and trust in God, greatness can be achieved," he added.
Speaking after her historic victory, Nworgu expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to represent Nigeria and credited months of preparation, personal sacrifice, and the support of the National Sports Commission for her success.
"We came here prepared, and the National Sports Commission did a lot for us. They invested so much to make sure we were ready, and I personally had to give my best to make Nigeria proud," Nworgu said.
She described the Commonwealth Games as one of the toughest competitions in Lightweight Para Powerlifting, noting that success required maximum effort and determination.
"It is not easy. The Commonwealth Games are different because you have to give your very best to achieve success. Seeing the Nigerian flag go up and hearing our anthem was a special moment," she said.
The original article was posted on the West-Central Africa Division Facebook page.
