By Orkula Shaagee
The Nigerian contingents to the 2025 Africa Weightlifting Championship in Mauritius have received a big financial boost after the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade gave a personal donation of Three Thousand, Eight Hundred Dollars ($3,800) to athletes and officials.
Olopade, who is currently in Moka, Mauritius, to boost the team’s morale at the championship, gave the donation when he held a meeting with officials of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation yesterday.
“I bring you greetings from the Chairman of the Commission Mallam Shehu Dikko, who is the father of Sports in Nigeria.
“He actually told me that I should remind you that weightlifting is part of the sport that as a country, we have a competitive edge as far as Africa and the World is concerned, so you must try to win a lot of medals here in Mauritius.
“Therefore my slogan for you here in Mauritius is, more gold, more money. As you are winning, you are getting your alert.
“I am also glad to inform you all that four of you have been shortlisted into the A Category of the Elite Programme of the Elite Athletes and Podium Board of the Commission and will get 20,000 Dollars each as your annual training grants. And by next week, the four of you will get 5000 Dollars each as part of your training Grants installment.
“Your welfare is very paramount to us and it is a core mandate of the Commission under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to prioritise the welfare and well-being of our Elite Athletes.
“With this, you guys can now concentrate on your preparations without any distractions for the Commonwealth Games, the World Championship and ultimately the Olympic Games,” he concluded.