Ogun athletes protest over unfulfi lled cash pledge

Ogun athletes staged a peaceful protest over the non-fulfillment of cash pledge, totaling N411m, made by the state government to medalists who participated at the 2024 National Sports Festival (NSF) hosted by the state. It could be recalled that during the delayed festival, Governor Dapo Abiodun announced cash rewards of N2.5m for each gold, N1.5m […]

Ogun athletes staged a peaceful protest over the non-fulfillment of cash pledge, totaling N411m, made by the state government to medalists who participated at the 2024 National Sports Festival (NSF) hosted by the state.

It could be recalled that during the delayed festival, Governor Dapo Abiodun announced cash rewards of N2.5m for each gold, N1.5m for silver, N1m for bronze, and N50,000 for every participating athlete.

Th e result of the festival showed that the state eventually finished second on the overall medal table, with 93 gold, 65 silver, and 81 bronze medals, totalling 239 medals.

However, 10 months after the festival, the pledge made to the athletes is still unfulfilled, leaving them with no optionthan to stage the peaceful protest at the MKO Abiola Stadium to draw the government’s attention to their plight.

One of the athletes who pleaded for anonymity, said that none of them has received their prize money for both 2024 National Sports Festival and 2025 National Youth Games.

“Since the festival ended in May, we are yet to receive our prize money. We saw a story in one of the national dailies that the money has been paid which is not true. No athlete has collected money,” he said.

He pleaded with the state government to come to their rescue, highlighting their financial struggles as athletes.

“Also at the youth festival last year, none of the medalists received prize money, this is why we are begging the governor to help us look into this situation because we athletes are suffering. We don’t have money to sustain ourselves. Even to train is a difficult task,” he said.

Meanwhile, speaking to the Commissioner in a telephone interview, he said the payment process has been sorted out.

“Well, I think that has been sorted out. Th ere are so many things in this thing. It is just not the cash award or something like
that alone, there are so many things that have to be sorted out with their coaches and the likes.

But as I speak to you, I’m not too sure there’s any issue at all. “I’m not sure there’s any issue anywhere. I doubt it,” he said.