Sports
Eight Nigerian Athletes To Benefit From IOC
The International Olympics Committee (IOC) has captured eight Nigerian athletes in its scholarship scheme ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Among the lucky athletes are 100 metres hurdler and reigning Commonwealth gold medallist, Oluwatobiloba Amusan and Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist, Ese Brume.
Also on the scholarship list is Aruna Quadri, who has shot himself into reckoning as the first African Table Tennis player to play in the quarterfinals of the Olympics and recently became the first African player to reach the semifinal of the World Table Tennis Star Contender Championship in Qatar.
Others are Imaobong Uko (Athletics) and Offiong Edem (Table Tennis).
Under the scholarship scheme, athletes will receive a monthly payment until the Paris 2024 Olympics, which opens on July 26, 2024, and ends on August 11.
Also on the list are two of Nigeria’s best women wrestlers, Olympics silver medallist, Blessing Oborodudu and freestyle sensation, Adekuruoye Odunayo, as well as Taekwondo star, Elizabeth Anyanacho.
An overjoyed Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) Secretary-General, Banji Oladapo, said the scholarship is an indication that Team Nigeria’s light at Paris Olympics can glow brighter than expected.
Oladapo noted that the scholarship included access to appropriate training facilities with coaches, who specialise in their respective disciplines, regular medical and scientific assistance, accident and illness insurance, pocket money and travel costs for the athletes’ participation in relevant competitions and qualification events.
“We congratulate these eight athletes for earning scholarships as they focus on their qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics. All these athletes need to do is to focus on their training and set their goal towards the Paris Olympics. The NOC is always ready to ensure that Nigerian athletes benefit from the IOC as their welfare remains our highest priority,” Oladapo said.
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.
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