BY RAYMOND NWADUBA
Former Nigeria and Africa track queen, Mary Onyali has praised the National Sports Commission (NSC) for the whooping N200 million in training grants to 26 top -performing elite athletes and for establishing the Podium Elite Board.
The five -time Olympian, while responding to questions from a cross section with journalists, expressed optimism in the future of athletics in the country for as long as the right things are being done.
Onyali explained that making an Olympic podium finish doesn’t happen overnight. According to her, it takes three Olympic circles for an athlete to get to the podium. In other words, it takes twelve years for an athlete to get there, she stated.
She however said that the NSC leadership of Shehu Dikko and Bukola Olopade are working vigorously to ensure Nigeria return to the podium at the Olympics and at other international competitions.
“I must commend the NSC for the N200m training grants for athletes and also for establishing the Podium Elite Board which I’m a member.
“The future of athletics will remain bright in the country if we can continue to make such investments on our athletes.
“To make Olympic podium is not something that happens overnight. In fact, it takes three Olympic circles to achieve that, she revealed.
“But the NSC leadership is working really hard to achieve that and they are in the right direction”.
Key Details of the Disbursement:
Purpose: The funds are to support training and preparations for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, as well as other major international competitions, including the Olympic Games.
Selection: The athletes, who include both foreign-based and home-based, were selected by the Elite and Podium Board headed by Yusuf Ali.
Context: This is the second time in six months that the NSC has disbursed such payments to elite athletes, according to announcements made around February 10, 2026.
Other Support: In a separate development reported in April 2025, the NSC, under the immediate past administration, had previously initiated a $20,000 grant program for 78 elite athletes.
The current initiative is part of a renewed focus on athlete welfare under the guidance of the NSC leadership to boost success in international competitions.
