Reporting live from London

Team Nigeria athletes to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will earn $200 daily allowance, and pocket up to $8,000 in total rewards for winning gold medal, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has said.

The athletes got N500,000 each in travel support under a new welfare and incentive package by the NSC.

The package, according to the NSC represents a significant improvement in the financial support and rewards available to Team Nigeria athletes and officials.

Under the enhanced medal reward structure, gold medalists will receive an instant cash reward of $3,000, while silver and bronze medalists will receive $2,000 and $1,000 respectively. Coaches will receive corresponding rewards.

In addition to the instant cash rewards, medal-winning athletes will receive separate performance bonuses paid directly into their bank accounts. Gold medalists will receive $5,000, silver medalists $3,000 and bronze medalists $2,000.

A Nigerian athlete who wins gold could therefore receive up to $8,000 in direct rewards from the Federal Government.

Athletes will also receive $200 per day during the competition, while coaches will receive $250 per day. The new rates represent an increase from the $150 and $200 respectively paid during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The Commission had earlier approved N250,000 for every athlete and official to cover transportation to the national camp in Abuja.

An additional N250,000 was approved for each athlete and official to facilitate the early booking of return flights to their respective destinations after the Games.

“This means each athlete and official is entitled to a total of N500,000 in travel support under the new arrangement,” a statement by NSC Director of Information and Public Relations Dr Kehinde Ajayi, said.

According to her, local camping allowances have also been increased from the previous N1,000-N2,000 daily range to N5,000 for athletes and N7,500 for officials.

During the overseas training camp, athletes received $150 per day, while coaches received $200 per day.

The NSC said payments have largely been completed, with only a few outstanding cases linked to banking issues being resolved through the relevant National Sports Federations.

Meanwhile, the maiden Nigeria Diaspora Talents Trials ended in London, at the weekend, with the NSC officials saying that they were given the mandate by President Bola Tinubu to comb for athletes of Nigerian origin across the world no matter their location.

The Nigeria Diaspora Talents Trials, held at the Hertfordshire Games Village in London, featured exhibition matches in netball, football, golf, table tennis, taekwondo and basketball. In netball event, Team Nigeria Diaspora junior team, the Junior Hawks defeated Pakistan 33-13 while the Team Nigeria Diaspora basketball team beat a Hatfield selected side 62-47.

Addressing the athletes at the venue, NSC Director General, Bukola Olopade, said: “When you think there is no hope, under President Bola Tinubu, there is renewed hope for all of you. Take advantage of this platform to show the world that you are gifted and we are here to support you.

“Just look at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and see how easily we would have won it with our children. Eighteen of our boys played for other national teams, including three who played for England. Enough is enough.

“We want to take care of our children from a very young age to elite sports. Nigeria has the resources to take care of our young athletes and we will do that. These countries only reckon with you when you are doing well and discard you when you are done. But for Nigeria, you will always be a Nigerian,” Olopade said.

Speaking with The Guardian at the venue, NSC Chairman, Shehu Dikko, revealed that the Commission would take the Diaspora Talents Trials to other countries, including the United States and Canada, soon.

The Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Amin Dalhatu drummed up the importance of sports in uniting the nation.

“Sports is one thing that unites Nigerians. Sports bring us together and makes us forget all our differences. It is a major tool of modern diplomacy. There is a lot to talk about the benefits of sports. Sports men and women are always smarter, brighter and healthier. Therefore, I am happy to be here and will always be available whenever I am invited. For those of you who will go beyond this stage in your careers, I wish you the best,” he said.

Chairman of the Nigeria Diaspora Talents Development Committee, Dr Tunde Adelakun, thanked the NSC for empowering the committee on the mandate.

“We are grateful for this opportunity to harvest the immense talents of Nigerian descent scattered across the globe. It hurt so much to lose so many talents in the past. Now we are here to right the wrongs,” he said.

At the event were Nigeria’s only individual Olympics gold medalist so far, Chioma Ajunwa, former D’Tigresses captain and Vice-Chairman of NDTDC, Dr Sarah Ogoke, seven-time Olympic table tennis star, Funke Oshonaike, former Super Eagles players, Seyi Olofinjana and Carl Ikeme, as well as former hurdler, Moses Oyiki.

In turns, they gave the budding athletes tips on how to succeed on the international stage.