In a bid to help the nation’s outings at the Olympics to improve, the Nigeria Sports Development Fund Inc (NSDFI) will on Friday 30thSeptember 2018 launch a 90-days campaign to raise N900m for 90 athletes preparing for Tokyo 2020.
According to a press statement issued and signed by the Director General of the NSDFI, Olajide Fashikun, “our Olympic outings has not been very encouraging in recent times. This must change. We need 4.5million Nigerians to help us change the situation. From 1st September to 30thNovember is 90 days. With our people (Nigerians), it is very possible.
“We want to give each of the 90 athletes from five sports N10million elite athlete development grants.
“All we want is N200.00 or a multiple of N200.00 to take us there. You can pay to the account at Access Bank Nigeria, NSDFI (Elite Athlete Development) 0015464767 or just go to our website: www.nsdfi.com get to the ELITE ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT GRANT and follow the prompt.
“We look forward to receiving your support. Early preparation will guarantee us medals. We want to lift the image and respect of our nation henceforth in international sports. We have the talents and that is what we are seeking you to support.
Please tell five other friends, relations, associates and neighbours to join this campaign. Do your bit.
Make Nigerian sports greater, stronger and better respected. We do not have to wait for government. Our 1996 Atlanta Olympics like the 1994 Nations Cup in Tunisia (which we won) and the 1994 World Cup were products of private funding (NSDFI) not government.
“We have a seven-man committee that is expected to manage the monies we raise. The committee is headed by former handball player and ThisDay journalist Stanley Nkwazema. The other members of the committee are former African badminton champion Mrs Oby Solaja is Vice Chairman, first Nigerian to attend five Olympics Chief Mary Onyali and former 800m champion Fatimoh Muhammed.
The others are former handball player Emmanuel Olubiyo, College of Education Ilesa lecturer Dr Olukayode Bolarinwa and Lagos State SWAN chairman Debo Oshundun.
