Lagos State has approved the release of ₦36.3 million as cash rewards for athletes who represented the state at the 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games, held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Eko Hot News reports that the Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State Sports Commission, confirmed that the payments cover outstanding bonuses for medals won by Team Lagos at the festival held in May 2025.
Team Lagos finished sixth on the overall medals table, recording a total of 169 medals made up of 38 gold, 43 silver, and 88 bronze medals across various sporting events.
Under the approved incentive structure, individual gold medallists received ₦300,000 each, while athletes who won gold in doubles events were also paid ₦300,000 per person.
For team events, gold-winning teams received ₦700,000, which was shared among the athletes according to the number of participants in each team.
Silver medallists in individual and doubles categories were paid ₦200,000 each, while silver-winning teams shared ₦500,000 as approved by the state government.
Bronze medal winners in individual and doubles events received ₦150,000 each, while bronze-winning teams were awarded a total of ₦350,000 to be shared among team members.
Several athletes have confirmed receiving alerts, expressing appreciation to the state government for fulfilling its promise despite prevailing economic challenges.
The Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, reiterated the administration’s commitment to athletes’ welfare, transparency, and prompt settlement of entitlements.
He noted that the government has strengthened athlete management through a digital athlete portal, which integrates biometric identification to ensure accountability and accurate record-keeping.
Fatodu also disclosed that the commission has introduced an Athletes’ Liaison Officer to improve communication between competitors and sports administrators.
The cash reward follows the earlier recognition of Lagos junior athletes who topped the medals table at the 2025 National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has consistently maintained that rewarding athletes is part of his administration’s strategy to motivate excellence and sustain Lagos’ leadership in sports development.
With preparations already underway for the 2026 National Sports Festival in Enugu State, the government expressed optimism that Team Lagos will build on its Gateway Games performance.
The initiative further reinforces Lagos State’s commitment to nurturing sporting talent and promoting professionalism within the sports sector.
