Senator John Enoh, Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, has made it clear that both local and international athletes have received training grants and allowances.
The minister stated that this was evidence of the ministry’s concern for the athletes’ well-being.
Enoh, tweeting as #OwanEnoh, noted on Tuesday through his X.com handle, that this sounds the “initial time of all time” that locally situated competitors addressing the nation would get preparing awards.
His tweets stated, “I had another interactive session with the athletes at the games village in Paris as follow-up on their welfare in order to ensure that all local, foreign, and Olympics allowances are paid to all Team Nigeria athletes.”
“Home-based athletes complained that they had never received training grants, as this has only been a privilege for their foreign-based counterparts who have represented the nation.
For the first time ever, we have ensured that home-based athletes representing the nation receive training grants. In addition to the other allowances that have already been paid, athletes from abroad and domestically have now received training grants.
The minister stated that all national team athletes “deserve training grants, as they all put in efforts and passion to represent the country.” All of them are deserving.
“The athletes are extremely excited for podium appearances, and there is a lot of excitement at the games village.”
Nigerian competitor, Favor Ofili, qualified on Monday night for the last of the ladies’ 200 meters at the Olympic Games at the Stade de France in Paris, France.
In heat 1 of the semi-finals, she finished second to new women’s 100m champion Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia, who ran a season-best 22.05 seconds.
She places third among the crowd and competes with seven other competitors in the event’s final on Tuesday evening.
In another sport, Nigerian wrestler Blessing Oborududu advanced to the women’s 68kg wrestling semi-finals at the Games thanks to an 8-2 victory over her Canadian opponent Linda Morais. Oborududu is ranked number six in the world.
Additionally, the nation’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, was drawn against the United States in the 2024 Paris Olympics quarterfinals.
After their impressive 79-70 victory over Canada in their final group game on Sunday, D’Tigress made history by securing Nigeria’s first-ever berth in the last eight of the Olympics basketball tournament.
