Mr Solomon Dalung, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development will on Monday 3rdSeptember 2018 at the media centre of the National Stadium, Package A, launch off the Elite Athlete Development grant midwived by the Nigeria Sports Development Fund Inc. (NSDFI).
According to a statement signed by the Fund’s Director General, Mr. Olajide Fashikun, “the formal launch will signal the aggressive 90-days campaign we have planned to mobilise 4.5million Nigerians to donate N200 each to support 90 of our athletes who are preparing for Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
The former handball player also revealed that weightlifter Chika Amalaha has emerged as the first beneficiary of the grant. Her giant cheque, comprehensive life insurance cover and other appurtenances will be handed over to her at the ceremony to enable her and her team adequately plan, prepare and ensure the nation does better than the last outing in the Olympics.
He added, “89 other athletes are expected to benefit from the first tranche of N10m before November ending. We have approximately two years to the Games. The media will not be left out of the grants. Five of the journalists who follow the designated sports will enjoy N2.5m grant to cover the Games.”
Subsequent beneficiaries will be announced by the Chairman of the Elite Athlete Development Grants committee headed by Mr Stanley Nkwazema. The other members of the seven-man 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.
