Minister orders payment of athlete’s bonuses after Okagbare’s victory

By Albert Akota

The Minister of Sports, Tanmmy Danagogo, is excited by the victory of Blessing Okagbare, who won gold medal in 100 metres finishing at 10.85 seconds and setting a new Commonwealth Games record in Glasgow, Scotland.

“I am really very excited at this victory for Nigeria. Blessing Okagbare like our other medalists has really made Nigeria proud. Nigerians are very happy that we are doing well,” Danagogo said, on the sideline of the games after Okagbare’s victory.

Okagbare on Monday night set a new Commonwealth Games record in Glasgow when she finished at 10.85 seconds winning the gold medal.

She beat Veronica Cambell-Brown to emerge the fastest woman in the Commonwealth and also broke Debbie Fergusonl’s 10.91 seconds of 12 years

The excited minister said he has directed the National Sports Commission to ensure that any Nigerian athletes who wins gold, silver or bronze medals at the games, be paid their bonus instantly.

The Federal Government had last week pledged different sums of money to athletes who win gold, silver or bronze medals at the Glasgow Games as a way of motivating the athletes.

Under the arrangement, any athlete who wins a Gold medal will go home with $7,000, Silver medalist will get $4,000 while any athlete who wins Bronze medal will go home with $3,000.

“We want to make the athletes happy by paying them the money that the Federal Government promised on the sport.

“We do not want them to collect it after the games but as soon as they win they get their money. This will serve to further motivate them,” the minister said.

Danago said the reward is outside what the government would do for the athletes when they return to Nigeria after the games.

“This is an instant bonus to be given on the ground by the ministry of sports”, he said adding that “government will still honour and compensate athletes when we return”.