NSC Disburses ₦300m Training Grants to 31 Elite Athletes
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has disbursed approximately ₦300 million in quarterly training grants to more than 31 Nigerian elite athletes as the country steps up preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The latest disbursement is the fifth since the grant scheme was introduced in 2025 through the NSC’s Elite and Podium Board, and the third payment in 2026. It brings the total amount disbursed under the initiative to more than ₦1 billion over the past two years.
The scheme provides quarterly grants of $10,000, $5,000 and $3,000 to eligible athletes, depending on their performances and assessments against scientific performance indicators established by the board.
NSC Director General Bukola Olopade said the initiative reflected the commission’s commitment to improving athletes’ welfare and 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 scheme was among the key mandates given to the commission’s leadership by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure Nigerian athletes received the financial support needed to compete at the highest level.
‘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, to ensure that NSC put money in the pockets of Nigerian athletes and prepare them adequately for international competitions like the Olympics,’ he said.
Olopade added that consistent funding would allow athletes to concentrate on training without financial distractions.
‘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 commission said the grants had helped athletes prepare for international competitions, with beneficiaries describing the scheme as a significant boost to their training and competition readiness.
It also cited Nigeria’s performances at recent international events, including the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the 2025 Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia, as evidence of the importance of sustained investment in elite sports.
The performances of athletes such as Samuel Ogazi and Nathaniel Ezekiel were also highlighted as part of the progress in Nigeria’s elite sports development.
The NSC said the quarterly grants remained central to its strategy to improve Nigeria’s international competitiveness and secure sustained podium finishes at major competitions, including the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
