Olopade promises better pay for Super Falcons

The Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, has promised improved pay for the Super Falcons, saying the plans will be announced soon, The PUNCH reports.

Olopade made the disclosure while outlining the Federal Government’s approach to sports development, which he said centres on taking facilities closer to communities and strengthening support for women in sports.

“We have plans we are putting in place for improved pay for the Super Falcons which will be announced soon,” he said in a statement released by the NSC on Monday.

He explained that the infrastructure drive goes beyond major stadiums to include neighbourhood facilities and support for state governments building and revamping sports venues across the country.

“We are building neighbourhood facilities and supporting state governments all across the country that are building and revamping sports infrastructure. We must create opportunities for communities to have access to these facilities,” Olopade said.

Olopade pointed to the Nigeria Netball Federation as an example of growing female leadership, noting that the body has a female president and that nine of its 13 board members are women.

“Our netball federation has a female president and nine of our 13 board members are women. The sport is making history in Nigeria, and we will give them all the support they need,” he said.

The netball team is currently making its debut at the Africa Netball Cup and the 2027 Netball World Cup qualifiers in Nairobi, Kenya.

The DG also assured D’Tigress of the government’s backing after their recent success on the continent.

“Even in basketball, we have reassured D’Tigress that they have our full support. President Bola Tinubu has redeemed the nation’s $100,000 promise to each player, and we believe they will continue to rule Africa, as we remain committed to our women’s teams in every sport,” he said.

Olopade added that his focus is on progress rather than past setbacks.

“Look, I am a pathological optimist. I refuse to dwell on the failures of the past. And if I should stop dwelling on the failure of the past, you cannot judge today’s trajectories on the past failures,” he said.

He said the approach is aimed at resetting Nigerian sports around access, athlete development, infrastructure and welfare, so that the benefits reach communities and young Nigerians as well as elite athletes.