Athletes who represented Lagos at the 22nd National Sports Festival – Gateway Games held in Abeokuta, Ogun, in May 2025, have begun receiving their cash rewards.

This followed the Lagos government’s approval of ₦36.3 million for medal winners at the event.

Several athletes confirmed that payments had started hitting their accounts days after the Lagos State Sports Commission announced that the rewards had been cleared by the government.

Team Lagos finished in sixth place at the Gateway Games, winning a total of 169 medals—38 gold, 43 silver and 88 bronze.

The incentive breakdown revealed that 32 individual gold medal winners received ₦300,000 each; five gold doubles winners also earned ₦300,000 apiece, and a ₦700,000 team prize was shared among team members.

For silver medals, individual and doubles winners received ₦200,000 each, while silver-winning teams shared ₦500,000. Bronze medals for individual and doubles winners earned ₦150,000 each, while bronze-winning teams shared ₦350,000.

“We started receiving the payments last Friday after we were informed that the funds had been approved,” an athlete confirmed.

The development comes weeks after Lagos junior athletes recorded a historic outing at the 2025 National Youth Games in Asaba, where they dethroned hosts Delta State for the first time in the competition’s history.

Team Lagos topped the medals table with 110 medals—52 gold, 32 silver and 26 bronze.

Governor Babajide Sanwo‑Olu promptly rewarded the junior athletes for their feat before extending the same gesture to the senior athletes who competed at the National Sports Festival.

Reacting to the payments, Lekan Fatodu, director-general of LSSC, reaffirmed that athletes’ welfare is a cornerstone of the state’s sports policy.

“We have institutionalised transparency, accountability and dignity in athlete management.

“This includes the introduction of a digital athlete portal with biometric ID integration, ensuring stipends, insurance, and welfare support reach the right athletes promptly and without intermediaries,” Mr Fatodu said.

He added that a streamlined payment system now guarantees allowances are paid directly to athletes, while the appointment of an athletes’ liaison officer, a former competitor, ensures concerns are heard and addressed at the highest levels.

Looking ahead to the 2026 National Sports Festival in Enugu, Mr Fatodu said Lagos is determined to build on recent achievements.

“Our preparations are anchored on the Lagos excellence model with Governor Sanwo‑Olu’s steadfast support. Our objective is to replicate our developmental success at the senior level and consolidate Lagos’ position as Nigeria’s leading sporting powerhouse,” he said.

Athletes themselves expressed confidence in surpassing past performances, noting that standards have been raised across the board.

“From qualification to the games proper, you have to earn your place. There will be no more jamborees, especially in team sports. We’ve all been working hard,” said Abass Khalid, who represented Lagos at the last festival.

(NAN)