Commonwealth Games Build-Up: NSC Invests ₦200 Million In Elite Athletes
By FRED LONGJOHN OBEH
NSC Disburses ₦200 Million to Athletes
THE National Sports Commission (NSC) has released over ₦200 million in training grants to 26 Nigerian athletes, part of the country’s preparations for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. The funding, channelled through the NSC’s Elite and Podium Board, targets both home-based and foreign-based athletes across multiple disciplines.
Support Across Disciplines
Beneficiaries include athletes from athletics, wrestling, weightlifting, taekwondo, powerlifting, as well as para-sports like para athletics, para table tennis, and para badminton. According to the Commission, the grants aim to strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness at major international events while prioritising athlete welfare.
The Elite and Podium Board, led by Yusuf Ali, carried out a professional evaluation to select athletes with high prospects for success in Glasgow and other global competitions.
Restoring Confidence in Nigerian Sports
NSC Director-General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, noted that the funding reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to placing sports and athlete welfare at the centre of national policy. “Mr. President has increased our budget and given sports special financial consideration because he believes strongly in the power of sports and the potential of the Nigerian athlete,” Olopade said.
He described the latest disbursement as a reassurance to athletes of the Commission’s continued support: “When we take care of our athletes, they will take care of the country by winning medals.”
Sustaining Peak Performance
Olopade added that the initiative forms part of a broader strategy to ensure elite Nigerian athletes remain competitive ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games and other major events, including the Olympic Games. The current grant marks the second such disbursement to Nigeria’s elite athletes within six months, reinforcing the NSC’s commitment to structured and sustained high-performance support.
