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A former National High-Performance Director has raised concerns over unpaid salaries owed to members of an international high-performance sports team that supported Nigeria’s elite athletics system between 2013 and 2017.
Dr. Angie Taylor, who led the program during that period, said the initiative played a significant role in modernizing Nigeria’s high-performance sport structure and contributed to notable successes at continental and global competitions. The team consisted of professionals from the United States, Great Britain, South Korea, and Nigeria and was contracted to design and implement systems for athlete identification, preparation, and competition.
According to Dr. Taylor, the program helped identify and support athletes such as long jumper Ese Brume and hurdler Tobi Amusan, who later became the world record holder in the women’s 100-meter hurdles. Nigeria recorded one of its strongest performances at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, finished second overall at the 2015 All-Africa Games, and achieved world-leading rankings in the women’s 4×200-meter relay in 2015. Nigerian athletes also won medals at the World Relays and broke multiple African records during the period. Despite these achievements, Dr. Taylor said several members of the high-performance team were never paid salaries stipulated in their contracts. Nearly a decade later, she stated, the payments remain outstanding. She acknowledged that administrative changes and government restructuring have been cited as reasons for the delays but argued that such circumstances do not invalidate contractual obligations. Contracts were renewed in 2015, and the team continued working under challenging conditions, she said. At one point, members of the American contingent reportedly required assistance from the United States government to return home.
Dr. Taylor emphasized that her statement was not intended as an attack on Nigeria or its people, noting the dedication and resilience of the athletes, coaches, and officials involved. She described the issue as a systemic failure and called for the full payment of outstanding salaries.
“As Nigeria looks to the future, accountability matters,” she said, urging authorities to resolve the issue and honor contractual commitments.
The statement concludes with a call for fairness and resolution, expressing hope that Nigeria will close the matter responsibly while continuing to build on its sporting potential.
