Aftermath of Gateway Games: Oyo Athletes Cry Out, Beg Gov. Makinde for Reward
After a reward package was announced for athletes representing certain states at the 2024 National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Oyo State athletes who placed 6th on the medal table have voiced their appeal to Governor Seyi Makinde to do the same.
Some athletes who spoke with journalists at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex in Adamasingba, Ibadan, on condition of anonymity expressed their concerns about the inadequate state of their welfare.
They emphasized that government rewards for good performances at the festivals are their only means of survival.
Team Oyo delivered a brilliant performance at the 2024 Gateway Games, securing a total of 126 medals (38 Gold, 37 Silver, 51 Bronze) and finishing in 6th place on the medal table.
Some of the individual achievements by the athletes include Osijo Mary and Lawal Folashade Rofiat, who dominated weightlifting with multiple gold medals.
Hauwau Alayode also won gold in women’s featherweight taekwondo, while Adegboyega Aminat secured gold in women’s kickboxing. Modinat Shitti won gold in the 65 kg Kungfu Shanshou event, while Adeyemi Saheed won gold in the men’s singles in darts.
“Unfortunately the government has not said anything officially to receive athletes that won 38 gold, 37 silver, and 51 bronze medals to clinch the sixth position at the competition despite the shoddy preparation where most of the athletes couldn’t camp ahead of the game.”
“We know our governor likes sports and always cared for our welfare because he awarded the sum of one million naira for each gold medal, N500,000 for each silver medal, and N350,000 for each bronze medal to athletes after the last festival held in Asaba, Delta State, and we know he’s going to do better after Gateway 2024, but we’ve been waiting in vain to hear from him,” said one of the medalists that does not want her name in print.
Furthermore, the athletes, via a statement issued, have also drawn urgent attention to the plight of eight athletes, including an international medalist, who have not received their promised awards from the last National Sports Festival and an international competition.
“The funds for these awards were already available before a name mismatch by the sports council delayed the process. Since then, we have submitted several files and pieces of evidence to correct the records.
While other athletes have since been paid, the Accountant General has still not released the payments for these eight athletes despite all documentation being provided,” the statement reads.
They stressed further that this delay has caused frustration and financial strain for the affected athletes who have given their all to make Oyo State proud, while appealing to His Excellency to intervene so these champions receive the rewards they rightfully earned without further delay.
