Nigeria’s Paralympians Confirm Payment of Allowances, Cash Rewards

• Two Nigerian Paralympians confirm they received full camp allowances and cash rewards from the government before the 2024 Summer Paralympics
• Gold medalists received $15,000, silver medalists $10,000, and bronze medalists $5,000, marking a positive shift in athlete compensation

Two members of Nigeria’s 24-person contingent to the 2024 Summer Paralympic Games in Paris have confirmed receiving their full camp allowances and the cash rewards promised by the Federal Government.

Before the Games, the Minister of Sports, Senator John Enoh, pledged equal treatment and monetary incentives for both Paralympians and Olympians.

Speaking to our correspondent, Sunday Odebode, President of the Paralympic Committee Nigeria (PCN), confirmed that all athletes received their payments before leaving Paris. He stated, “The athletes were fully paid all dues. Gold medalists received $1,500, silver medalists $1,000, and bronze medalists $500 from the PCN. Those without medals and their officials received $100 each, while the technical crew was rewarded $1,000 for their efforts.”

Additionally, the federal government provided further cash rewards through the Ministry of Sports: $15,000 for gold medalists, $10,000 for silver medalists, and $5,000 for bronze medalists.

Folashade Oluwafemiayo, the captain of Nigeria’s Para-athletes who broke two world records in powerlifting, confirmed that all payments were completed before the team left Paris. She became the first para-athlete to lift 166kg, surpassing her previous world record of 165kg, stating, “The government and the committee fully paid us before we left Paris. This is a positive shift from the past, and we hope the momentum continues.”

Isaac Ogunkunle, who won bronze in the men’s class 4 table tennis event, echoed her sentiments: “Yes, they paid everything in the Games Village in Paris. I won bronze and received $5,000 from the government and $500 from the committee.”

While Onyinyechi Mark and Folashade Oluwafemiayo won gold in powerlifting, Bose Omolayo, Flora Ugwunwa, and Esther Nworgu secured silver medals, with Isau Ogunkunle and Eniola Bolaji winning bronze medals for Team Nigeria at the Paralympics.

Despite the Paralympians’ commendable performance, it represented a slight drop from their 10-medal haul at the Tokyo 2020 Games.