The National Sports Commission (NSC) of Nigeria has disbursed approximately ₦300 million in quarterly training grants to over 31 Nigerian elite athletes as the country prepares for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. This latest disbursement marks the fifth since the introduction of the quarterly training grants policy in 2025 and the third payment made in 2026.
The total amount released to date is over ₦1 billion over the past two years. The initiative, implemented through the NSC’s Elite and Podium Board, provides quarterly grants of $10,000, $5,000 and $3,000 to eligible athletes, depending on their performances and assessments against established scientific performance indicators.
The programme aims to improve athletes’ welfare, provide consistent financial support for training, and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness at major international competitions. According to NSC Director-General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, the disbursement reflects the commission’s commitment to building a sustainable system for sporting success through deliberate investment in athletes.
Olopade emphasized that there are no accidental successes in sports and that the Commission has prioritised the welfare and wellbeing of athletes as a critical part of its strategy for scientific podium success. The grants are among the key mandates given to the commission’s leadership by President Bola Tinubu to ensure Nigerian athletes receive adequate financial support for international competitions.
The Director-General noted that athletes need financial stability to concentrate on their preparations without being distracted by the cost of training. He added that taking care of athletes properly enables them to wear the Green and White of Nigeria with pride and dignity, and that President Tinubu has continued to support every policy introduced to revamp the sports sector.
The impact of sustained financial support has been reflected in Nigeria’s recent performances at international competitions, including the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where the country emerged as Africa’s leading nation. The performances of athletes such as Samuel Ogazi and Nathaniel Ezekiel, who broke world records, were cited as evidence of the benefits of sustained investment in elite sports development.
Nigeria’s outing at the 2025 Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia further highlighted the importance of consistent support for athletes as the country steps up preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. The commission's efforts aim to ensure that Nigerian athletes are adequately prepared and supported to compete at the highest level.
Key points
- The National Sports Commission has disbursed over ₦1 billion in training grants to elite athletes over the past two years.
- The quarterly training grants policy was introduced in 2025 to provide consistent financial support to athletes.
- The initiative has contributed to Nigeria's recent successes in international competitions, including record-breaking performances by athletes.
