The Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Dr Thomas Bash, Olympic Solidarity Committee and Association of National Olympic Committee of Africa (ANOCA) for their concerted feat of awarding Olympic scholarship for Nigeria Athletes towards Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The scholarship which covers Individual Scholarship (Olympic Solidarity), Individual Scholarship (ANOCA) Phase 1 and Team Scholarship is spread among eighteen (18) athletes.
Those to enjoyed the Individual Scholarship are Amusan Oluwatobiloba, Nathaniel Samson Oghenewegba,Adekuoroye Odunayo, Adeniyi Aminat Oluwafunmilayo, Oborodudu Blessing,
Otuadinma Uzoamaka, Aruna Quadri Akinyemi, Omotayo Olajide, Adesanmi Oluwatoyin Victoria, Ofili Favour Chukwuka,Nwosu Chinazum Ruth, Adamu Abubakar Isah, Nathaniel Glory Onome, Brume Ese, Enekwechi Chukwuebuka, Chukwechi Rosemary,Basketball (Men) and Hockey (Women).
The Board and Members of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (IOC) has informed the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare that it has obtained preparatory financial support to elite individual athletes and teams who have the potential to achieve Olympic podium in Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
In its letter signed by the General Secretary of the Committee Mr. Olabanji Oladapo, the feat was achieved through the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Olympic Solidarity Committee and Association of National Olympic Committee of Africa (ANOCA) during the 2017 – 2020 quadrennial period.
These scholarship supports received by the Committee is aimed at providing training scholarship for the Athletes and Team, this will assist them in qualifying for the Olympic Games and in achieving podium performance at the Games proper.
The total budgeted amount for the scholarship which is in three (3) categories-Individual Scholarships, (Olympic Solidarity), Individual Scholarship (ANOCA) phase 1 and Team Scholarship is $299, 720.00 while the Committee has received $251, 560.00 and a balance of $48, 160.00 pending.
A total eighteen (18) Athletes are benefiting from the Individual Scholarship in various sports such as Athletics, Wrestling, Taekwondo, Table Tennis and Weightlifting. There are also athletes in Basketball (Men) and Hockey (Women).
