JamzNG Latest News, Gist, Entertainment in Nigeria
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has announced an upward review of performance bonuses and instant cash prizes for Nigerian athletes competing at the ongoing 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
Kehinde Ajayi, director of information and public relations at the NSC, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.
Ajayi quoted NSC President, Shehu Dikko, as saying that the new rewards package was approved to further motivate athletes of the Nigerian team.
Dikko said gold medalists will now receive $10,000, with $5,000 as an immediate cash reward and $5,000 to be paid directly into their bank accounts.
He said silver medalists will receive $5,000, including $2,000 in instant cash and $3,000 paid into their accounts.
According to him, the bronze medalists will receive $3,000, including $1,000 in instant cash and $2,000 paid into their accounts.
Dikko said the initial reward structure was $8,000 for gold medalists, with $3,000 in instant cash and $5,000 paid into their accounts.
“After meeting the team in Aberdeen, I decided to increase the immediate cash reward to $5,000 as further motivation for all gold medal hopefuls,” he said.
He added that the three gold medalists who won their events on Friday had already received $10,000 each, contrary to earlier reports that they had received $8,000.
“Saturday’s two gold medalists and silver medalists also received their instant cash payouts of $5,000 and $2,000, respectively,” Dikko said.
As for incentives for coaches, the NSC president said coaches would receive $5,000 if their athletes won gold medals.
He added that athletes received a daily allowance of $200, while coaches were entitled to $250 per day.
“There are also special bonuses in special circumstances, such as the immediate cash reward given to Rilwan Idris on Friday to motivate him from a potential bronze position to gold,” he said.
The NSC said the enhanced welfare package was part of efforts to ensure Team Nigeria was adequately supported and motivated during the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
