Sports
Three Days to AACT 2026, Omon Isemede Confirms Accreditation, Media Readiness
Cyril Ogar
Nigeria – With just three days to the 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT), Chairperson of the Accreditation and Media Committee, Omon Isemede, has declared her committee ready for the continental championship, expressing confidence in the arrangements put in place for a seamless tournament.
Isemede said the accreditation and registration processes had been completed smoothly, with technology playing a key role in ensuring efficiency, accuracy and proper coordination across the different categories of participants.
She disclosed that accreditation arrangements for all categories had been properly handled, adding that the committee’s decision to commence preparations early had contributed significantly to the progress recorded.
According to her, starting early gave the committee sufficient time to plan, coordinate and address the various requirements ahead of the arrival of participating teams, officials, media representatives and other stakeholders.
Isemede also identified the strong working relationship among the different committees of the Local Organising Committee as a major factor behind their progress, describing the level of cooperation and coordination as encouraging.
She commended the leadership of the President of the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN) and Chairperson of the AACT 2026 Local Organising Committee, Dr Lami Onayi Ahmed, for providing an enabling environment that allowed committees to work effectively and deliver on their responsibilities.
The committee’s readiness marks another important step in Nigeria’s preparations to host the continental women’s golf championship, which will bring together golfers from across Africa to compete for national honours.
Nigeria will host the All Africa Challenge Trophy for the third time, following the 1996 edition at Ikoyi Club 1938 in Lagos and the 2010 championship at the IBB International Golf & Country Club in Abuja.
The 2026 tournament is scheduled for November 2 to 7 at the IBB International Golf & Country Club, Abuja, under the slogan “Uniting Africa through the greens.”
With three days remaining, the focus is now on final preparations as Nigeria gets set to welcome Africa for a championship that celebrates women’s golf, sporting excellence and continental unity.
3 DAYS TO GO.
AACT 2026: UNITING AFRICA THROUGH THE GREENS.
AFRICA IS COMING TO ABUJA.
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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