Sports
Ondo Assures Athletes Of Reward
The Ondo State Government will reward hard working athletes in the state, Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, the state’s Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, assured yesterday in Akure.
He gave the assurance in Akure while receiving athletes who represented the state and excelled in various local and international competitions, including wrestling, volleyball, weightlifting, table tennis and football.
Yusuf-Ogunleye, who said arrangement had been concluded to give the athletes a state reception, called on them to intensify efforts to win more medals for the state.
“We are very happy with the performances recorded by our athletes in various sports. This has shown us that, with more incentives, we can conquer the world.
“The success recorded in wrestling, weightlifting, football, volleyball and table tennis did not come by accident but due to the available talents as well as encouragement from the state government.
“It is on this note that I congratulate all the winners,’’ he said.
The commissioner, however, noted that it was difficult for the state government to put in place much more financial motivation for the sportsmen and women due to paucity of funds.
He disclosed that there were workers in the Ondo State Football Agency who had not been paid their salaries for 12 months.
Yusuf-Ogunleye, who said the present administration in the state was on a rescue mission, assured athletes of better days ahead.
Earlier, the Director of Sports, Ondo State Sports Council, Martins Adeojo, said the present administration in the state had achieved a lot in less than a year, especially in sports development.
Adeojo, who presented the athletes to the commissioner, said the medals won for the country by the state indigenes was as a result of the unflinching support received from Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
He, however, called on the state government to do more in the area of financial encouragement and provision of facilities.
The Tide source reports that Odunayo Adekuoroye, Aminat Adeniyi, John Emmanuel, Bisola Makanjuola, and Samuel Bose had won gold and silver medals in wrestling for Nigeria.
They won them at the African Senior Championship in Morocco.
Adekunoroye also won a silver medal for Nigeria in the women’s competition at the World Wrestling Championship in Paris.
In weightlifting, Fatima Yakubu won three gold medals for Nigeria at the African Championship in Uganda.
Matty Taiwo won two gold and one bronze medals at the ITTF African Junior Tournament in Egypt.
The state also emerged third on the overall medals table, out of 35 states at the 2017 National Youth Games in Ilorin, with 12 gold,12 silver and 12 bronze medals.
NAN also reports that three players from the state are currently at the national volleyball camp in Abuja ahead of the African Championship in Egypt.
At the occasion, the management of Sunshine Stars FC of Akure presented the Fair Play Trophy the team won at the just-concluded 2017 Men’s AITEO Cup.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.