As part of ongoing efforts to celebrate young Nigerian athletes who made the country proud in various competitions in 2025, the National Sports Commission (NSC) paid a visit to Nigerian Tulip International Colleges, Abuja, where six student-athletes were honoured for their impressive achievements in both local and international events.
The delegation was headed by NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko and Director-General Bukola Olopade. The recognition programme, which has the backing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is designed to motivate emerging sports talents across the country. Also present at the event was Sunday Dare, the former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, who now serves as the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication.
Among those rewarded was outstanding sprinter Miracle Ezechukwu, a multiple gold medal winner at the 2025 African Youth Games in Angola and the maiden African School Games in Algeria. She also claimed silver medals at the Islamic Solidarity Games and the CAA Region III Championships. For her remarkable performances, she received a cash reward of N3m.
Her colleague, Rosemary Chigozie, who also secured gold medals at both the African Youth Games and the African School Games, in addition to a silver medal at the CAA Region III Championships, was equally presented with N3m.
Taekwondo athlete Yemi Andrew, who won silver at the African Junior and Cadet Taekwondo Camp and reached the quarter-finals of the African Youth Games, was given N2m. Another taekwondo athlete, Crown Umeh, who finished with a bronze medal at the same competition, received N1m.
Similarly, Unique Umeh, who picked up a bronze medal in taekwondo at the African School Games in Algeria, was rewarded with N1m. Adeeze Precious also got N1m after emerging as the best performer in the long jump event with a leap of 6.05m at the 2025 MTN CHAMPS held in Benin.
The commission noted that the recognition exercise was not limited to Abuja, as other deserving young athletes in schools located in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and Asaba, Delta State, also benefited from the initiative.
According to the NSC, the programme is part of a broader strategy to boost grassroots sports development by supporting students who are successfully combining academics with sporting excellence. The commission emphasised that early recognition of young athletes remains crucial to building a stronger Team Nigeria capable of excelling at continental and global competitions.
The reward initiative had earlier kicked off in Lagos, where the NSC Director-General visited Grange School to celebrate two promising swimmers, Aidan Dumuije-Abili and Tofunmi Ibidapo, for their performances at the 2025 Africa Zone Two Swimming Championships. The tour also included a stop in Abeokuta, where Hafsoh Majekodunmi of Abeokuta Grammar School was recognised at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena for her achievements.
