In fulfilment of his earlier pledge, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has rewarded medalists and coaches who represented the state at the 22nd National Sports Festival with a total sum of N474 million.
The cash presentation ceremony held on Monday at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, drew athletes, coaches and top government officials who gathered to celebrate Team Ogun’s outstanding outing at the national competition.
Ogun State finished second on the overall medals table, clinching 93 gold, 65 silver and 81 bronze medals, bringing the total haul to 239 medals.
The governor rewarded the medalists in line with the promise he made during an unscheduled visit to the team’s Games Village camp in May 2025.
Represented by the Ogun State Head of Service, Mr Kehinde Onasanya, Abiodun said the gesture was aimed at honouring excellence, diligence and hard work.
“I am delighted to note that Team Ogun did not merely host but competed with exceptional distinction, securing an impressive second position with a total of 239 medals, surpassing our previous record,” he said.
“This achievement reflects the discipline of our athletes, the expertise of our coaches, and the effectiveness of our investment in sports infrastructure and human capital.”
The governor stated that each of the 93 gold medalists received N2.5 million, 61 silver medalists got N1.5 million, while 81 bronze medalists were awarded N1 million each.
He added that additional incentives were approved for participants in team sports due to their numbers.
According to him, all statutory obligations, including training allowances, participation allowances and contract fees, had been fully paid.
He recalled that a sum of N50,000 was earlier paid to each athlete who qualified to represent the state, while instant cash awards were also disbursed to medalists before the close of the festival.
“Today marks yet another historic milestone as we fulfil our second promise by presenting cash rewards exceeding four hundred and fifty million naira to our deserving athletes,” he said.
Abiodun also approved N10 million for the state coaches and N14.8 million for administrative staff, describing the reward culture as a tradition under his administration.
He noted that Ogun hosting the festival for the second time demonstrated the state’s capacity and commitment to national development through sports.
In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon Wasiu Isiaka, described the reward as a reflection of the government’s appreciation of the athletes’ sacrifices and dedication.
“Today, in fulfillment of the second promise, we are witnessing a historic moment as we set a new benchmark for cash rewards in the annals of the National Sports Festival,” he said.
Isiaka added that the steady growth of sports in the state was evident in the performance of the athletes and the increasing number of high profile competitions hosted in Ogun, including continental and national tournaments.
He urged the athletes and coaches to sustain the momentum as preparations begin for the 23rd National Sports Festival scheduled to hold in Enugu State.
