Dollar rain as NSC D-G Olopade splashes financial incentives on Nigerian Weightlifters in Mauritius

Posted : 23 April 2025

The Nigerian contingent at the 2025 Africa Weightlifting Championship in Mauritius has received a significant financial boost after the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, made a personal donation of $3,800 to the athletes and officials of the team.

The DG, who is currently in Moka, Mauritius, to boost the team's morale at the championship, made the donation during a meeting with the team and officials of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation on Wednesday.

"I bring you greetings from the Chairman of the Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, who is the father of sports in Nigeria," he said.

"He specifically told me to remind you that weightlifting is one of the sports in which our country has a competitive edge, both in Africa and globally, so you must strive to win a lot of medals here in Mauritius."

"Therefore, my slogan for you here in Mauritius is, 'More Gold, More Money.' As you win, you will be receiving your alerts."

"I am also glad to inform you that four of you have been shortlisted for the A Category of the Elite Programme of the Elite Athletes and Podium Board of the Commission, and each of you will receive $20,000 annually as part of your training grants. By next week, each of you will receive $5,000 as part of your training grant installment."

"Your welfare is very important to us, and it is a core mandate of the Commission under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to prioritize the welfare and well-being of our elite athletes."

"With this, you can now focus on your preparations without distractions for the Commonwealth Games, the World Championship, and ultimately the Olympic Games," he concluded.

In a related development, the Technical Committee member of the Weightlifting Federation of Africa, Lawrence Iquaibom, assured that Nigeria's weightlifters would excel at the ongoing African Weightlifting Championship in Moka, Mauritius.

The re-elected WFA Technical Committee member affirmed that the country's lifters had received the best preparations for the championship, and based on their previous performances, he expects Nigeria to finish in the top two at the end of the competition on Sunday.

"I can confirm that they are ready for the competition. I know they are going to meet expectations because if we don't finish first, we will end the championship in second place regarding weightlifting in Africa," Iquaibom said.

"We are going to win plenty of medals because three medals will be awarded in all categories. I believe all our lifters will return to Nigeria with medals."

Meanwhile, Nigeria's weightlifters at the African Weightlifting Championship in Moka, Mauritius, will begin their quest for medals on Thursday, with four of the country's six lifters expected to compete.

The opening ceremony of the African Weightlifting Championship took place in Moka, Mauritius, on Wednesday, with all participating countries showcasing their lifters and officials to mark the start of the competition.

After the opening ceremony, the championship began with the Women's 45kg and 49kg categories on Wednesday evening.

It will be Nigeria's weightlifters' turn to bring pride to the country starting at 13:00 local time when Onome Omolola Didih competes for top medals in the women's 55kg category on Day 2 of the competition.

At the same time on Thursday, serial African and Commonwealth Games champion, Rafiatu Folashade Lawal, will also strive to bring smiles to the faces of Nigerians in the women's 59kg category.

At 16:00 local time, two other weightlifters, Emmanuel Tuesday and Edidiong Joseph Umoafia, will also be eager to bring laurels to Nigeria in the Men's 67kg and 73kg categories, respectively, during the evening session.

Three medals are available in each category, and just as they have performed in previous editions, Nigeria's representatives are set to finish on the podium in all six categories they are competing in, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Nigeria currently has a contingent of six athletes—four female and two male—participating in the 2025 Africa Weightlifting Championship in Moka, Mauritius.

Dollar rain as NSC D-G Olopade splashes financial incentives on Nigerian Weightlifters in Mauritius

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics