Sports

NSC Disburses Another ₦300m Training Grants to 31 Elite Athletes Ahead of 2028 Olympic Games

Published

1 day ago

October 30, 2026

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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Sports

CityRoxx Targets Sustainable Table Tennis Ecosystem for Nigerian Players

Published

4 hours ago

October 31, 2026

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

The Chief Executive Officer and founder of CityRoxx Table Tennis, Giwa Lukman, says his organisation is committed to building a sustainable ecosystem that will provide Nigerian table tennis players with opportunities for talent discovery, development, exposure and career progression.

Lukman made this known during the opening ceremony of the maiden CityRoxx City Smash Open Table Tennis Championship in Abuja, where he outlined his vision of creating a connected sporting community that supports players beyond competitions.

The six-day championship, holding at the Mo Arena Basketball Court in the Federal Capital Territory, has attracted more than 200 players from 33 clubs and over 27 states across the country.

According to Lukman, CityRoxx is not merely interested in organising tournaments but seeks to establish a structure that will support players at every stage of their sporting careers.

“We understand that the future of table tennis cannot depend on competitions alone. We need a structure that supports players before, during and after competitions.

“We want a system where a young player can be discovered, trained, registered, tracked and given opportunities to grow.

“We want players to have proper profiles, competition records and rankings. We want clubs to have a stronger network, while coaches, schools, sponsors and organisers become part of one connected sporting community,” he said.

He said that CityRoxx was developing a digital platform through its website, www.cityroxtabletennis.com, which would serve as a central hub for players, clubs and other stakeholders.

He explained that the platform would enable players to register, build their profiles, follow competitions, access rankings and remain connected to opportunities within the sport.

Lukman added that the organisation was also committed to expanding table tennis through school programmes, grassroots development, tournaments, media engagement and strategic partnerships.

He emphasised the importance of giving Nigerian players greater visibility, noting that their performances and achievements deserved wider recognition.

The CityRoxx founder also called on corporate organisations and private investors to support the development of table tennis, stressing that sponsorship should go beyond branding and become an investment in a growing sporting ecosystem.

He expressed appreciation to the championship sponsors, Kingfem and FCMB, for believing in the vision and supporting the maiden edition.

According to him, their commitment demonstrates the importance of private-sector participation in sports development.

Lukman further encouraged participating athletes to embrace discipline, respect their opponents and officials, and demonstrate good sportsmanship throughout the competition.

He described the championship as an important milestone for Nigerian table tennis, adding that the vision was to build stronger competitions, expand school programmes, strengthen club networks and establish a functional ranking system.

Declaring the championship open on behalf of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) the Vice President, Hon. Salisu Malantariki, represented by Adamu Usman Ahmed, commended the organisers for their initiative and commitment to the growth of table tennis in Nigeria

Ahmed said the future of Nigerian table tennis depended on collective commitment to grassroots development, improved infrastructure, stronger clubs and regular competitive opportunities.

He urged government institutions, corporate organisations, private investors and sporting communities to support initiatives capable of discovering and nurturing young talents.

The opening ceremony also featured exhibition matches, with Abdulmalik Taofeek defeating his father, Hamzat Taofeek, 2-1 in an entertaining father-and-son encounter.

In the women’s exhibition match, one of Nigeria’s leading players, Ajoke Ojomu, defeated Aminat Sani 2-0.

Lukman expressed optimism that the maiden championship would mark the beginning of a bigger initiative capable of transforming the table tennis landscape and creating lasting opportunities for the next generation of Nigerian players.

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