Every epoch has its defining moments for men and women who shape history, either for good or for bad.

For former Nigerian hurdler, Olympian Moses Oyiki, the country’s sports is taking a new direction under the President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

For years, Oyiki, a former African champion at Cairo 1990 African Athletics Championships, was a thorn on the flesh of several Nigerian sports administrators, calling for their heads particularly when things are not done properly for the country’s athletes at major competitions.

Oyiki, who competed in the men’s 110m hurdles at Atlanta ‘96 Olympics, where he came 5th in his heat in the first round, is beginning to see ‘Renewed Hope’ for Nigerian athletes.

“I can’t believe what I am seeing in Team Nigeria’s camp now,” Oyiki, now a Barrister at law, told The Guardian in Glasgow.

“It is surprising to some of us who have been agitating for good welfare package for our athletes and officials at major competitions. Everyone knows that I am a voice for the athletes all the years because a majority of our past sports administrators have treated our athletes badly. They think of what goes into their pocket at the detriment of the athletes and coaches. But I can see a clear departure from the past, and I must thank the Presidency for putting in place these crop of people at the National Sports Commission (NSC) and also believing in them,” he said.

Oyiki, who came from his base in Republic of Ireland to cheer Nigerian athletes at the Games, said: “I can see clearly the impact of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on our athletes. I have taken my time to interact with the athletes and coaches, and their response is the same. There is no substitute to putting in place good training camp and financial motivation for athletes. They need the cash to take care of themselves and family members. Nigerian athletes have not had it this good,” he stated.

President of Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), Dr. Ibrahim Abdul, also credited the NSC’s unprecedented investment in athlete welfare, overseas training and instant financial rewards as the driving force behind Team Nigeria’s outstanding weightlifting performances at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Nigeria recorded six gold and three silver medals from both para-lifting and weightlifters through the efforts of the likes of Esther Nworgu, Ruth Asuquo Nyong, Edidiong Umoafia, Onome Didih and Riluwan Idris captured gold medals and got an instant cash reward of $5,000, while silver medallist got $2,000 and bronze medallist smiled home with $1,000. The instant dollar rain is different from an approved $5,000 paid directly into the bank accounts of gold medallists.

Some of the athletes got more dollars as part of NSC’s motivational at the Games.

For instant, before Idris started his event, the Chairman of the NSC, Shehu Dikko promised to double his reward to $10,000 if he beats all contenders to the gold.

Prior to the event, Idris was not given the chance to win the gold considering the caliber of lifters ahead of him in the men’s heavyweight.

He lifted 200kg in his opening attempt before improving to 208kg and then 212kg on his third lift.

Idris performance earned him 132.8 points, enough to finish ahead of England’s Matthew Harding, who took silver with 131.0 points after lifting 202kg.

While Idris was battling on the mat, NSC’s Director General, Olopade was busy shouting on the sideline saying: “Remember your dollars.”

The motivation spurred Idris to gold.

Another athlete, Patricia Mbata, who lost to her English counterpart 3-2 in the quarterfinal in women boxing, was rewarded with $5,000 by the NSC.

“We decided to reward Patricia with $5,000 because it was clear she won the gold medal,” Olopade told journalists during the week.

Another athlete, Goodness Nwachukwu, who won Team Nigeria’s seventh gold medal with a new world record in the women’s para discus F42-44/61-64 event, also had her cash reward doubled from $5,000 to $10,000.

Also, 19-year-old Jessica Oji, who won the silver medal in the women’s shot put with a best throw of 17.87 meters had her cash reward doubled from $2,000 to $4,000 by the NSC.

Shot putter, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi won his first Commonwealth Gold medal on Thursday evening and also smiled home with his share of the dallar.

For NWF President, Dr. Ibrahim Abdul, the current generation of Nigerian athletes, including weightlifters have enjoyed the best preparation in the nation’s sports history.

According to him, the extensive training programme, including the final overseas camp in Aberdeen, exposed the athletes to world-class facilities and competition-standard equipment long before the Games began.

“One thing that has really helped the federation this time is that we have never had this kind of preparation before. We had several foreign training tours and stayed in Aberdeen, where the athletes trained with the same standard of equipment they are using here in Glasgow. So, nothing they are seeing here is new to them.”

Dr. Abdul praised the NSC leadership, particularly Director General Bukola Olopade, whose close relationship with the athletes, he said, has transformed the team’s morale.

“The Director General promised rewards before the competition, and you can see the outcome today.

“Our athletes now love the DG more than they even love us because of the way he motivates them and the genuine care he has shown. The instant cash rewards are also playing a huge role in motivating the athletes,” Dr. Abdul stated.

Director-General of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Philip Shaibu, told The Guardian in Glasgow that the nation will enjoy more benefits of the present cash reward for athletes at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

“I am looking beyond this Commonwealth Games,” he said. “I see a huge crowd of athletes battling to represent Nigeria at Los Angeles 2028 because this administration has raised the bar, with allowances paid as at when due unlike before when they were not even sure of getting their allowances. Other athletes will want to fight to be benefit from the squad to Los Angeles,” Shaibu, a former Deputy Governor of Edo State, stated.

NSC Chairman, Dikko, and Director General, Olopade, expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for creating an environment where athletes are receiving unprecedented support.