The National Sports Commission (NSC) has promised instant cash rewards of up to $3,000 for Nigerian athletes who win medals at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, as the country prepares to make history at the first Olympic event to be hosted on African soil.
Key Highlights
- NSC promises $3,000 for gold, $2,500 for silver and $2,000 for bronze at Dakar 2026.
- NSC DG Bukola Olopade announced the rewards at Team Nigeria’s send-forth in Abuja.
- The Youth Olympic Games hold October 31 to November 13 in Dakar, Senegal.
- Three psychologists and two safeguarding officers will travel with the team.
- Some athletes were excluded after being found to be 18 years old.
Director-General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, announced the incentives during a historic send-forth ceremony for Team Nigeria’s young athletes on Tuesday in Abuja, where officials celebrated their dedication and formally handed them over for onward transportation to Dakar, Senegal.
Under the reward scheme, athletes who win gold medals will receive $3,000, while silver medallists will earn $2,500 and bronze medallists $2,000.
Olopade said the initiative is designed to recognise the athletes’ discipline and commitment, adding that their efforts to represent Nigeria deserved appreciation regardless of their age.
“If you have the discipline to wake up every morning at 5am to train, and in the evening to train, despite body aches and everything, then you deserve any money that the country gives to you for doing well,” he said.
The NSC chief explained that the rewards would also support the athletes’ education and their families, noting that the commission had already introduced a programme of visiting athletes in their schools to recognise and reward their performances.
He urged the young competitors to approach the competition with confidence and determination, describing the Games as an important platform for developing future Nigerian champions.
First Olympic Event On African Soil
The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, scheduled for October 31 to November 13, will mark the first time an Olympic-branded event of this nature is hosted on African soil, giving the continent a historic opportunity to showcase its young sporting talents.
Olopade told the athletes that their participation has already secured them a place in sporting history, regardless of their eventual results.
He expressed confidence that some of the athletes would progress to senior international competitions, including the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, if they remain committed to their development.
The director-general, however, expressed reservations about the selection of events for the Dakar competition, saying some sports in which Nigeria traditionally enjoys a competitive advantage were not included in the programme.
He stressed that the commission was placing considerable importance on talent development and international exposure, rather than judging the team’s performance solely by its medal tally.
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Psychologists, Safeguarding Officers For Young Athletes
On the welfare and protection of the young athletes, Olopade disclosed that three psychologists and two safeguarding officers would accompany the contingent to provide guidance and help protect their well-being throughout the competition.
He also emphasised the importance of complying with age requirements, revealing that some athletes had been excluded after being found to be 18 years old.
According to him, the commission would not compromise the rules governing participation, insisting that Nigerian athletes must uphold the country’s reputation through their conduct and performance.
Earlier, the Director-General of High Performance at the NSC, Ali Yusuf, said securing approval for Nigeria’s participation had required considerable effort because the organisers selected events outside some of the country’s traditional sporting strengths.
He described the Games as a valuable opportunity for the young athletes to gain international experience, urging them to appreciate the investment in their development and follow the team’s code of conduct.
Yusuf specifically warned against breaches of anti-doping regulations and urged the athletes to observe the prescribed communication channels, particularly when using social media or reporting concerns during the competition.
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