NSC increases athlete bonuses…

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has announced a significant increase in performance bonuses and instant cash rewards for Team Nigeria athletes competing at the ongoing 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, as part of efforts to boost morale and encourage medal-winning performances.

Key Highlights

• The National Sports Commission (NSC) has increased performance bonuses and instant cash rewards for Team Nigeria athletes competing at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
• The revised reward package aims to boost athletes’ morale and encourage medal-winning performances.
• Gold medal winners will now receive $10,000 — comprising $5,000 instant cash and $5,000 paid into their bank accounts.
• Silver medalists will earn $5,000 — including $2,000 immediate cash and $3,000 transferred to their accounts.

NSC Chairman, Shehu Dikko, disclosed that the enhanced reward package was approved after consultations with the commission’s Director-General, Bukola Olopade, to further motivate Nigerian athletes in their quest for podium finishes.

Under the revised incentive structure, gold medal winners will now receive a total of $10,000, comprising an instant cash reward of $5,000 and an additional $5,000 paid directly into their bank accounts.

Silver medalists will earn $5,000 in total, made up of $2,000 in immediate cash and $3,000 credited to their accounts, while bronze medalists will receive $3,000, including $1,000 instant cash and $2,000 paid electronically.

According to Dikko, the previous package offered gold medalists $8,000, consisting of $3,000 instant cash and $5,000 transferred to their accounts.

However, following his meeting with Team Nigeria in Aberdeen, the commission decided to raise the instant cash component to further inspire athletes competing for gold.

“I met with the director-general, and we agreed to improve the athletes’ bonuses. After interacting with the team in Aberdeen, I decided to increase the instant cash reward for gold medal winners from $3,000 to $5,000 as additional motivation,” Dikko said.

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He confirmed that the three Nigerian athletes who won gold medals on the previous day had already received the revised $10,000 reward package, while the latest gold medalists and silver medal winners had also been paid their respective instant cash incentives.

Beyond athletes’ rewards, the NSC also announced enhanced incentives for coaches.

Any coach whose athlete wins a gold medal will receive a $5,000 performance bonus in recognition of their contribution to the athlete’s success.

The commission further revealed that Team Nigeria athletes are receiving a daily allowance of $200, while coaches are entitled to $250 per day throughout the Games.

Dikko added that the commission would continue to introduce special motivational bonuses where necessary, citing the on-the-spot cash reward presented to Rilwan Idris, which he said inspired the athlete to improve from a potential bronze-medal finish to claiming gold.