Gateway Games: Abiodun Fulfils N2.5m Cash Promise to Ogun Athletes, Other Medalists 

By: Israel Adeleke, Olufemi Orunsola 

In line with Governor Dapo Abiodun’s earlier pledge to incentivize and celebrate outstanding performances of athletes who represented the host state at the just-concluded National Sports Festival, Ogun state has commenced disbursement of financial rewards to athletes who secured medals.

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News recalls that before the start of the games, Governor Abiodun had promised a cash reward of N2.5m for each gold medallist, N1.5m for silver and N1m for bronze.

He also approved the sum of N50,000 for each of the athletes that represent the state at the sports festival the Games which came to an end on Thursday, with Ogun State finishing second on the medals table behind the defending champions, Delta State.

Ogun made a late surge from the third spot to displace Bayelsa State, finishing the multi-sport event with 93 gold, one more than the third-placed Bayelsa.

The athletes were paid N50,000 on Wednesday, plus a festival allowance of N140,000 each, after they protested the delay at the games village at Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo.

OTN News recalls that the protest grounded other participants at the games village for over seven hours, forcing events on the penultimate day of the competition to start and run late.

About 10,000 athletes from the 36 states of Nigeria, plus the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and the Invited Junior Athletes competed for medals at the Gateway Games 2024.