The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has, in what it called ‘another show of proactivity’ given out $25,000 to Team Nigeria athletes who have so far won medals at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games in England.
In a ceremony held at the Hilton Garden in Birmingham last night, the athletes and their coaches were rewarded for bringing glory to the country.
Gold medal winners, Adijat Adenike Olarinoye and Rafiatu Folashade Lawal, received $5,000 each, while their coaches were also given $3,000 each.
Folashade won gold in the women’s 59kg weightlifting event while Adenike bagged gold in the women’s 55kg weightlifting event.
Taiwo Liadi, a silver medallist in the women’s 76kg women’s weightlifting event, received $3,000.
Bronze medal winners, Edidiong Joseph Umaofia, Islamiyat Yusuf and Mary Osijo, received $2,000 each for their efforts.
The event had in attendance the Chief of Staff to the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Alhaji Abba Yola; Director of finance at the ministry, Olufehinti Olusegun; and Dr Simon Ebhojiaye who is the leader of delegation for Team Nigeria to the games.
Lawal, speaking on behalf of the cash recipients, said: “I am pleased we got rewarded even before the end of the competition. I thank the honourable sports minister Sunday Dare for his proactivity in this regard.
“It is quite timely for us, as this act will encourage and spur all athletes to do more. For me, I want to thank the minister for this and I’m very excited.”
Team Nigeria are currently eighth in the overall medal table with five gold, three silver and five bronze medals, making them the second best African team so far at the Games, behind only South Africa, who have won seven gold, seven silver and eight bronze medals.
Sports minister Dare has insisted that athletes’ welfare is a top priority of his administration.
