Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has fulfilled his administration’s financial pledge to athletes who represented the State at the 22nd National Sports Festival (NSF), approving a comprehensive reward package valued at N474 million for medalists, coaches and administrative personnel.
The cheque presentation ceremony took place on Monday February 16, at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, in what officials described as one of the largest post-festival reward disbursements in the history of the Games.
Prior to the festival, held in Ogun State in 2025, Governor Abiodun had publicly committed to performance-based incentives of N2.5 million for every gold medalist, N1.5 million for silver medalists, and N1 million for bronze medalists. Team Ogun went on to deliver a historic performance, finishing second on the overall medals table with 93 gold, 65 silver and 81 bronze medals — bringing the total haul to 239 medals and surpassing the State’s previous records.
Represented at the event by the Ogun State Head of Service, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya, the Governor stated that 239 medal-winning athletes and approximately 300 officials benefitted from the financial package. He described the gesture as deliberate recognition of excellence, discipline and sustained hard work.
According to him, the total payout to the contingent exceeded N450 million, setting what he called a new benchmark in athlete compensation at the National Sports Festival.
“Ogun State did not merely host the Games; Team Ogun competed with exceptional distinction. Securing 239 medals and finishing second overall is a testament to the discipline of our athletes, the technical competence of our coaches and the strategic investments we have made in sports infrastructure and human capital development,” he said.
Governor Abiodun recalled that during an unscheduled visit to the Team Ogun camp at the Games Village, his administration pledged to reward the athletes’ dedication. He confirmed that all statutory entitlements — including training allowances, participation allowances and contractual obligations — had been fully settled.
He further revealed that each athlete who qualified to represent the state received N50,000 while in camp. In addition, instant cash rewards were disbursed to medalists before the official closing ceremony of the festival, reinforcing what he described as the administration’s culture of prompt recognition.
Breaking down the final disbursement, the Governor said all 93 gold medalists received N2.5 million each; 65 silver medalists received N1.5 million each; and 81 bronze medalists were paid N1 million each. Additional financial incentives were also approved for participants in team sports, acknowledging their collective contribution and larger squad sizes.
Beyond the athletes, the Governor approved N10 million as a reward pool for State coaches in recognition of their technical input, while N14.8 million was allocated to administrative staff for their operational support throughout the Games.
Members of the contingent also received commemorative souvenirs, including festival-branded bags, water flasks and umbrellas.
In his welcome remarks, the Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Wasiu Isiaka, described the reward scheme as both symbolic and strategic, noting that it reflects the administration’s commitment to institutionalising excellence in sports.
He said Ogun State’s sustained investment in facilities and manpower development has repositioned it as a major sports destination in Nigeria and across Africa.
“In the past eight months alone, our facilities have hosted major competitions, including the CAF Champions League — the first time since 2001 — the African Athletics U18 and U20 Championships involving 52 African countries, Super Eagles matches, and numerous domestic league fixtures. Our facilities are now active almost every week,” Isiaka stated.
He urged athletes and coaches to consolidate on the gains recorded at the 22nd NSF as preparations begin for the 23rd National Sports Festival scheduled to hold in Enugu State.
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