The immediate past Director of Sports at the Bayelsa State Sports Council, Sir Braveman Wodi, has called for the adoption of a unified reward system for athletes in Nigeria, describing the current arrangement as inconsistent and largely dependent on the discretion of benefactors.
Sir Wodi made the call while speaking at a public lecture organized to mark 50 years of grassroots sports development by renowned sports administrator, Ambassador Miebi Ogunu. The event was held at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre, Ekeki, Yenagoa.
Wodi, who also serves as the South-South representative on the Board of the Nigeria Canoeing Federation, lamented the wide disparities in athletes’ rewards across sports and states, noting that in some instances victorious athletes are offered nothing more than a handshake.
According to him, “whether an athlete, coach or official is rewarded at all, and the value of such reward, is often left to the whims of individuals or governments.” He added that different states operate different reward regimes, while some sports are prioritized above others, regardless of the level of achievement.
To illustrate his point, Wodi cited the case of the Super Falcons, who received national honours, three-bedroom apartments in Abuja and $100,000 each after winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, compared to wrestler Blessing Oborududu, who received the same national honour and apartment but only $10,000 for winning a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics—an achievement he described as higher than a continental title.
He therefore urged policymakers to prioritize sports development by enacting legislation that establishes a unified and structured reward policy for athletes nationwide.
In a lecture titled “Celebrating 50 Years of Dedication to Grassroots Sports Development,” the Director of Sports, Niger Delta University, Amassoma, Prof. Diepreye Ere, traced Ambassador Ogunu’s journey in sports development, noting that he began with a simple vision to provide children and youths in rural communities with opportunities to engage in sports.
Prof. Ere said despite challenges such as limited resources, poor facilities and weak community support, Ogunu’s persistence enabled him to establish local sports clubs and informal training programmes in communities across Port Harcourt and Brass. He added that Ogunu organized regular tournaments and mentored thousands of young athletes, many of whom later attained regional, national and international success.
According to Ere, Ogunu’s contributions have enriched lives and strengthened community bonds, urging stakeholders to not only celebrate his legacy but also commit to sustaining and expanding his vision.
Also speaking, President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engr. Habu Gumel, urged the Bayelsa State Government to establish a sports trust fund to cater for athletes’ welfare. He said such a fund would motivate sportsmen and women to pursue excellence with confidence.
Represented by the Chairman of the Rivers State Teqball Association, Mr. Halim Zaccah, Gumel noted that sustainable sports development begins at the grassroots and stressed the need for a strong legal framework to guarantee structured support for athletes and sports professionals.
Earlier, Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Laye Julius, a sports stakeholder and immediate past chairman of the Trade Union Congress in Bayelsa State, lamented the disappearance of sports fields in schools, the decline of school sports and the extinction of organizations promoting grassroots sports.
Recalling a time when players like Jossy Donbraye, Tarila Okorowanta and the late Adokie Amasiamaka represented the Green Eagles while still in school, Dr. Julius said the solution lies in returning to the basics by reviving grassroots sports development.
Chairman of the Planning Committee, Barr. Uroh Kiani, said Ambassador Ogunu was being honoured for his unassailable contributions to grassroots sports development over the past five decades.
The Technical Adviser to the Bayelsa State Governor on Sports, Mr. Alaowei Opukume, also praised Ambassador Ogunu’s passion and commitment to sports development, praying that he would reap the rewards of his lifelong dedication.
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