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The National Sports Commission (NSC) has released about ₦300 million in quarterly training grants to more than 31 Nigerian elite athletes, boosting preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The payment is the fifth since the quarterly grants policy began in 2025 through the NSC’s Elite and Podium Board, and the third in 2026. It brings total disbursements to over ₦1 billion in two years.
Under the scheme, athletes receive quarterly grants of $10,000, $5,000 or $3,000, depending on their performance and eligibility under scientific performance indicators set by the Board.
Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, said the policy reflects the Commission’s commitment to building a sustainable system for sporting success.
“There are no accidental successes in sports. This is why the Commission has prioritised the welfare and wellbeing of our athletes as a critical part of our strategy for scientific podium success,” Olopade said.
He said the grants were among the key mandates President Bola Ahmed Tinubu gave the Commission’s leadership.
“I am particularly glad that we have been able to institute this athletes’ training grants policy because it is one of the core mandates Mr President gave to Mallam Shehu Dikko and me, to ensure that we put money in the pockets of Nigerian athletes and prepare them adequately for international competitions like the Olympics.”
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“We can only get the best out of our athletes when we take care of them properly. By doing so, they will wear the Green and White of our country with pride and dignity. This is why Mr President has continued to support every policy we have introduced to revamp the sports sector,” he added.
Olopade said steady financial support lets athletes focus on training without worrying about money.
“Our athletes need this money to stay focused on their training so they are not distracted in their preparations for major competitions.
And we must not forget that when we take care of our athletes, they will take care of the country with medals,” he said.
The NSC pointed to Nigeria’s recent results as evidence of the policy’s impact, including finishing as Africa’s leading nation at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. World records by Samuel Ogazi and Nathaniel Ezekiel were also cited, along with Team Nigeria’s strong showing at the 2025 Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia.
The Commission said the grants remain central to its strategy to strengthen the elite sports system, improve competitiveness and deliver podium success at major global events.
