Sports

Athletes’s Welfare, My Priority As a Minister- Dare

Published

4 years ago

July 8, 2022

Joel Ajayi
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare has reiterated that welfare of athletes has remained a priority for him since assuming office in 2019.

In a chat with pressmen during an interactive session in Abuja, Dare said, “Before I assumed office, I knew that welfare of athletes will always be key to their performances.

“This was why I immediately introduced the Athletes’ Welfare Scheme, where past athletes who brought glory to Nigeria in different sports were considered for reward. This did not exclude those who have transited to the great beyond like Late Rashidi Yekini, Samuel Okwaraji, Ali Jeje and others.

“We needed to recognise what they did for Nigeria and also further restate our commitment to the line in our National Anthem that says, ‘the labour of of our heroes past, shall never be in vain’.

“Again we celebrated and awarded 60 Sports Icons as a way of telling the heroes of tomorrow that their successes will also be remembered in the future and entrenched in the annals of our history.

“Furthermore, two of our athletes won medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and almost instantaneously, they were rewarded for their outstanding performances.

Nigeria’s best performance at the Olympics in 13 years was at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games courtesy of the medals won by Ese Brume and Blessing Oborodudu,” Dare explained.

Speaking on the increase in financial reward for paralympic athletes, the Sports Minister explained that the Ministry implemented a whooping 300% increase of their bonuses.

“Those who won Gold medals received $15,000, silver medal winners got $7,500 while bronze medalists got $5000 each. This was just another way of motivating and appreciating our athletes,” the Minister said.

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Sports

Akinwunmi Hails Girls, Praises Tinubu Sports Reforms

Published

2 hours ago

November 8, 2026

The Gleamer

The former First Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation and former Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association spoke in Lagos moments after the Flamingos beat Japan in the final to become the first African country ever to lift the trophy.

Akinwunmi also gave credit to government.
He hailed the reforms of the National Sports Commission, backed by the mandate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“This victory did not happen by chance,” he said.
“President Tinubu gave sports a clear mandate. Sports is no longer just leisure. It is a national asset. It is a tool for youth empowerment.”

“For years we cried that grassroots football had no money. Today, the NSC has brought structure, accountability and long-term planning.”
For Akinwunmi, it was not just a win. It was the fulfilment of a vision he has carried for over a decade.

“This is not just a trophy. This is history,” Akinwunmi said.

“This is Africa’s first. This is Nigeria showing the world that our girls can be the best in the world.”

“You have proved that ‘Let The Children Play’ was not a slogan. It was a vision that incorporated the development of the girl child and culminated in Lagos State producing successive Falcons’ captains under his watch. Today, that vision is a World Cup.”

Akinwunmi knows what this victory means.
While many administrators focused only on the Super Eagles, he fought for youth and girls football.

He created “Let The Children Play”. He pushed for the NFF/Zenith U15 Women Competition. He pushed for scouting of girls from age 13.

As Chairman of the NFF Youth Development Committee, he wrote the Youth Development Policy. His rule was simple: scout from 13, move them from U13 to U15 to U17 to U20. No win-at-all-cost. Build players for the future.

“Give a girl a ball, give her education, give her a chance,” he used to say. “She will give you a World Cup.”

On Saturday, the girls gave Nigeria a World Cup.
He praised the leadership of the National Sports Commission NSC under the leadership of Mallam Shehu Dikko and Hon. Bukola Olopade, according to him, the difference was clear on the pitch.

This time, the Flamingos had proper camping. They had friendly matches. They had sports science. Their allowances were paid.
“When you treat athletes with dignity, they will give their all on the pitch for Nigeria.”

He said the reforms match his own “Football First” blueprint, which he wrote while at the NFF.

“Focus on grassroots football, focus on youth development. Focus on the leagues, focus on proper organisation, focus on the economy of football. Trophies will follow. Today, the trophy has followed.”

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