Sports
Commonwealth Games: Abuja Marathon’s MD, in Birmingham, says Nigerians can dominate global athletics
The Managing Director of Abuja International Marathon (AIM) Zsuzsanna Ogunmiloyo, who is in Birmingham the host city of the ongoing 2022 Commonwealth Games to support the Team Nigeria contingent, on Sunday posited that Nigeria has what it takes to dominate athletics at the global level with a well-structured elite athlete development programme.
In a statement signed by Abuja International Marathon (AIM) Race Director Olukayode Thomas who also heads the Media and Publicity, Ogunmiloyo also commends Sports Minister Sunday Dare for prioritizing athletes’ welfare.
Ogunmiloyo, who moved from venue to venue, spent quality time with weightlifters and their coaches.
Her major takeaway is that Team Nigeria can dominate the sprints, quarter-mile, jumps, relays, hurdles and other events because the Caribbean countries and Americans that dominate those events today share similar traits with Southern Nigerians, while East Africans that dominate the middle, long distances and marathon share similar traits with Northern Nigerians.
Said Ogunmiloyo, ‘’ I believe that with a properly funded and well-monitored elite athlete development programme, Nigeria has what to dominate athletics in the world.’’
Using the men and women marathon as examples, Ogunmiloyo said Ugandan Victor Kiplangant’s winning time of 2;10 minutes would have been achieved by Nigeria if we support Nigerian marathoners.
‘’ The belief that Kenyans win all marathons is not true. The reason why they win most is that they have a good elite development programme and Kenyan see road races and marathons as a business.
“The winner of the men’s event is from Uganda, his winning time of 2;10 minutes is what our men can achieve if they had the support they needed. About 30 years ago, our men like Abass Muhammed and Yohanna Waziri were running 2;14. So, if in the last three decades we have proper elite development programmes, our men will be running 2;10 minutes and below’’.
Ogunmiloyo noted that five of the top ten finishers in the men’s event are not even from East Africa, saying: ‘’even in the women’s event the winner Jessica Stenson is from Australia. She beat Kenyan Margaret Muriuki to win the gold medal and four of the top ten finishers in the women’s event are not from East Africa’’.
Ogunmiloyo, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Unicentral Resources Generation Limited, commends Team Nigeria for being in the top ten on the medal table.
‘’Being among the top ten in the Commonwealth is highly commendable. It is not an easy feat, I am proud to be a Nigerian and besides we are the number one African nation on the medal table beating South Africa, Kenya, and others’’.
She also commends the Sports Minister for prioritizing athletes’ welfare, ‘’ the athletes are happy that their allowances and other entitlements have been paid while medallists are rewarded immediately medals are won. This is commendable I really appreciate the good gesture,’’ said Ogunmiloyo.
Sports
NSC Disburses Another ₦300m Training Grants to 31 Elite Athletes Ahead of 2028 Olympic Games
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has disbursed approximately ₦300 million in quarterly training grants to more than 31 Nigerian elite athletes, providing early boost to the country’s preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The latest payment marks another milestone in the Commission’s efforts to strengthen athletes’ welfare and ensure sustained preparations for major international competitions under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The latest disbursement is the fifth since the introduction of the quarterly training grants policy in 2025 through the NSC’s Elite and Podium Board, and the third payment made in 2026.
With the latest payment, the Commission has now disbursed more than ₦1 billion in training grants to Nigerian elite athletes over the past two years.
The initiative provides quarterly grants of $10,000, $5,000 and $3,000 to athletes, depending on their performance and eligibility under the scientific performance indicators established by the Elite and Podium Board.
The policy has been widely welcomed by some of the country’s leading athletes, who have described it as a game changer that has significantly improved their preparations for international competitions by providing consistent financial support for their training needs.
Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, said the initiative reflected the Commission’s commitment to building a sustainable system for sporting success through deliberate investment in athletes.
“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,” Hon, Olopade said.
He said the training grants were among the key mandates given to the Commission’s leadership by President Tinubu to ensure that Nigerian athletes receive the financial support needed to compete effectively 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 and me, to ensure that we put money in the pockets of Nigerian athletes and prepare them adequately for international competitions like the Olympics.”
“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 said.
Hon. Olopade added that sustained financial support would enable athletes to concentrate on their training without the distractions of financial uncertainty.
“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 added.
The impact of the training grants has continued to reflect 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, further highlighted the benefits of sustained investment in elite sports development.
Team Nigeria’s impressive outing at the 2025 Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia also underscored the importance of consistent support for athletes as the country intensifies preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The NSC said the training grants remain a central component of its strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s elite sports system, improve international competitiveness and deliver sustained podium success at major global competitions.
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