Nigeria can win ten Olympic gold medals if SPRF is fully present

By ORKULA SHAAGEE, Abuja –

Managing Director of Incel Tourism Group, Mr. Ifeanyi Ezeokoli, said he was confident that “with the immense sporting talent abounding in Nigeria, the country could win up to ten gold medals at the Olympic Games if the Sports Performance Fund (SPRF) comes into full action. place.

Ezeokoli, a fitness enthusiast and avid sports fan, made the statement when he hosted representatives of the SPRF at his office in Ikoyi, Lagos over the weekend.

The self-effacing entrepreneur specifically mentioned weightlifting, wrestling, boxing and athletics as sports in which the Nigerian youth will excel with the SPRF challenge.

“I was recently in my hometown and saw some young men challenging themselves with weights made of cast concrete and I thought I could compete with my gym experience. Whatever I struggled to lift, they simply lifted as if it were a notebook. They were competing for bragging rights and I felt there was betting going on. I believe that once they know about the SPRF rewards, they will take it to Olympic level.” he said.

The SPRF board was represented by Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida the President, Odein Ajumogobia SAN, Vice President National and Government Relations and Godwin Kienka, the Executive Secretary.

Engr Musa Kida, former Deputy Director of Total Energies, in his remarks, said the board was honored by the very warm reception and impressed by the level of sports knowledge exhibited by Mr Ezeokoli. “We have no doubt that this initiative will attract tremendous private sector involvement in Nigerian sports development and inspire our youth to excel on the world stage.” said Engr Musa Kida.

Mr Ezeokoli made a significant on-the-spot contribution to the fund, which he stressed should not be made public. However, Odein Ajumogobia SAN, former Minister of Petroleum and later Foreign Affairs, informed his host that in line with SPRF policy, all donations will be displayed on the website for all stakeholders to track, but those with privacy requests will be flagged anonymously .

The SPRF Board was previously received by the Hon. Minister of Sports, Senator John Owan Enoh and Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, who also made a very uplifting donation which the church requested to be kept private.

The SPRF plans to raise an initial sum of N10 billion, which will be bankrolled for generations of Nigerian sports youth and used for that purpose only. Olympic gold should attract N10 million, silver N7.5 million and bronze N5 million. Commonwealth Gold winners will receive N5 million, Silver N3 million and Bronze N2 million, while the All Africa Games and major World Championships will attract N3 million for Gold, N2 million for Silver and N1 million for Bronze.