The Oyo State Government has clarified that its medalists at the 22nd National Sports Festival in Ogun would be adequately rewarded for their performance.
The clarification followed allegations in some quarters that the state government’s promised reward for medalists at the festival, tagged the Gateway Games, fell short of the athletes’ expectations.
The commissioner for youth and sports, Wasilat Adegoke, in a statement, said that the instant cash reward was to motivate athletes who have won medals at the festival.
“The instant cash reward is also to challenge those who are yet to compete in their respective sporting events,” she said.
Adegoke also said that the instant reward was different from the largess that Government Seyi Makinde would officially announce for the medalists, athletes and officials at the end of biennial sporting events.
“This is how we do our things. We are the pacesetter state. We are different, unique, and strategic.
“Our governor has been rewarding athletes in the previous editions of the NSF. Aside from the festival, he also rewarded Oyo athletes at the last commonwealth games.”
“The N20,000 for gold medalists, N10,000, and N5,000 for silver and bronze medalists, respectively, are primarily meant to motivate, encourage, and challenge athletes during the events. This is how we do our things.
“Apart from this, all registered athletes in Abeokuta have received their allowances, and they’re doing us proud on the medals table.”
“Our governor will continue to support and motivate athletes in the state. I can assure you that our athletes will be hosted, celebrated, and rewarded handsomely by the governor.
“People should check our records; we have done this before, and we shall continue to do even better,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oyo state came fourth at the NSF, Edo 2022, with 50 gold medals, 51 silver and 62 bronze.
The medalists were received by the governor and gold medalists received N1 million, silver medalists N500,000 and winners of bronze collected N350,000, while non-medalists received N250,000 each.
