NSC Releases ₦300m Training Grants to 31 Elite Athletes Ahead of LA 2028 Olympics

Posted : 30 October 2026

Nigeria’s preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles have received a financial boost following the disbursement of approximately ₦300 million in quarterly training grants to more than 31 elite athletes by the National Sports Commission (NSC).

The latest payment, announced on Friday, October 30, 2026, forms part of the Commission’s ongoing efforts to improve athletes’ welfare and strengthen the country’s competitiveness at major international sporting competitions.

The disbursement represents the fifth payment since the introduction of the quarterly training grants programme in 2025. It is also the third round of payments made in 2026.

With the latest release, the Commission has now disbursed more than ₦1 billion in training grants to Nigerian elite athletes over the past two years.

The programme operates through the NSC’s Elite and Podium Board, which assesses athletes using established performance indicators. Eligible beneficiaries receive quarterly grants of $10,000, $5,000 or $3,000, depending on their performances and qualification under the programme's assessment criteria.

The initiative is designed to provide athletes with consistent financial assistance for their training requirements, reduce financial pressures and allow them to concentrate on preparations for international competitions.

NSC Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, described the initiative as an important part of the Commission’s strategy to establish a sustainable system for sporting success through deliberate investment in athletes.

He stressed that athletes’ welfare remains central to the country's ambitions of achieving podium success at international competitions.

Olopade also explained that the training grants programme was among the key directives given to the Commission's leadership by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko.

According to him, consistent financial support would enable Nigerian athletes to prepare adequately without being distracted by financial difficulties.

He maintained that investing in athletes' wellbeing was essential to improving their performances and increasing Nigeria's chances of winning medals at major international events.

The Commission also pointed to Nigeria's recent performances at international competitions as evidence of the importance of sustained investment in elite sports development.

Among the athletes highlighted were Samuel Ogazi and Nathaniel Ezekiel, whose record-breaking performances have strengthened Nigeria's presence in international athletics.

Team Nigeria's performance at the 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia was also cited as an indication of the progress being made through structured support for elite athletes.

The latest disbursement follows an earlier ₦200 million training grant released in February 2026 to 26 Nigerian athletes preparing for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

That programme covered athletes from different sporting disciplines, including athletics, wrestling, weightlifting and para-sports.

With the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics approaching, the NSC says its quarterly grants policy will remain a major component of efforts to improve athlete development, strengthen international competitiveness and deliver sustained medal-winning performances for Nigeria.

NSC Releases ₦300m Training Grants to 31 Elite Athletes Ahead of LA 2028 Olympics

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