National Sports Commission, NSC, has disbursed about N300 million as training grants to more than 31 Nigerian elite athletes for 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.
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 N1 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.”
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.

Nigeria’s Flamingos booked their place in the semi-finals of this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals after securing a 1-0 victory over Venezuela on Sunday night, with Azeezatt Oduntan scoring a late penalty in the 89th minute.
The quarter-final contest had been closely fought, with Nigeria creating several opportunities but finding Venezuela goalkeeper Valeria Rebanales a huge stumbling block. The Flamingos enjoyed much of the attacking play in the first half, but Rebanales produced a couple of saves to keep the scores level.
Midfielder Favour Nkwocha was also cautioned as Nigeria continued to press for an opening goal. Head Coach Hakeem Busari made his first change of the evening, introducing Precious Oscar for Oluwakemi Adegbuyi as Nigeria looked to find a way through.
The deadlock remained unbroken until the 88th minute, when the referee initially awarded Nigeria a penalty before being invited to the VAR monitor to review the decision. Following the review, the penalty was upheld, and Oduntan stepped forward to convert from the spot with a minute left on the clock, giving Nigeria the breakthrough.
Top scorer Oluebube Umejiaku had won the penalty for the Flamingos, setting up Oduntan to deliver the decisive moment of the contest. The victory sends Nigeria into the semi-finals, where they will face Brazil, who secured a 2-1 win over China in their quarter-final encounter.

Britain’s Harriet Dart won the first WTA Tour singles title of her career as she beat Austrian teenager Lilli Tagger in the Guangzhou Open final.
Dart, 30, was overcome by emotion following a 4-6 6-3 6-4 victory in a tense final.
The gutsy victory capped a stunning run for Dart, who came through qualifying to lift the trophy at the WTA 250 event.
“Since I was a little girl, lifting a trophy on the WTA Tour has been something I’ve dreamt of. To be able to finally do it is amazing,” Dart told BBC Sport.
“It’s crazy to be sitting here as champion after coming through qualifying – it’s mad really.
“It’s been a wild week – I’m super proud of myself.”
The British number five, ranked 115th in the world, twice had a lead in the decider wiped out by 18-year-old Tagger.
But Dart broke for a third time for 4-3 and held serve to move within one game of the title.
Dart held two championship points on 53rd-ranked Tagger’s serve in the ninth game – dumping an inviting mid-court ball into the net on the second – but recovered to seal victory in the biggest match of her career.

She took her third championship point with a service winner, falling to the court in joy before celebrating with her team.

As well as taking home the trophy, Dart will be rewarded for the best week of her career by climbing back inside the world’s top 100.