AFOLABI SAHEED OLAWALE
Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, has reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to the welfare and reward of Nigerian athletes, following the country’s first medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Olopade spoke after Roland Ezuruike claimed Nigeria’s opening medal—a silver in the men’s lightweight para powerlifting event—describing the achievement as the perfect start to the nation’s campaign.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consistently demonstrated his commitment to rewarding athletes who make the country proud, especially those who win medals on the international stage,” Olopade said.
“We have presented Roland with an immediate reward of $2,000 for winning silver. Of course, we were hoping for gold because he was the champion in Birmingham, but the most important thing is that Nigeria has opened its medal account on the very first day. We believe this will inspire the rest of the team. This is also separate from the rewards that will come from the Federal Government for winning a silver medal.”
The NSC Director-General said the Tinubu administration had placed athletes’ welfare at the heart of its sports development agenda, creating renewed confidence across the sporting landscape.
“This government is fully committed to the welfare of Nigerian athletes. There is a new wave sweeping through Nigerian sports, and we want every athlete to be proud to represent this country,” he said.
Olopade added that Team Nigeria remains focused on making history in Glasgow by surpassing the country’s previous best performance at the Commonwealth Games.
“We are racing against history. Our goal is to exceed every previous achievement by Team Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games. This silver medal is only the beginning. We believe we are on the threshold of something historic.”
