The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has announced cash awards for athletes who win medals at the ongoing World Athletics U20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya where 200 countries are competing.
Nigeria is 3rd on the medals table so far.
Dare had charged and promised the athletes before the Championships began that those who do the nation proud will be handsomely.
The cash awards announced will see the athletes receive $5000 for Gold, $3000 for Silver, and $2000 for Bronze medals.
Already by the close of Day 4, Nigeria had recorded her best-ever outing in history at the Championships with three gold and two bronze medals.
This medal haul has moved Nigeria to third place on the medals table behind the hosts Kenya and surprise package Finland.
Favour Ofili (200m women) and Chinacherem Nnamdi (Javelin) won Team Nigeria’s Bronze medals.
There are expectations of more podium finishes for Team Nigeria in the 4×100m (men and women) and 4×400m (women) relays on Sunday, the final day of the Championships.
This is, however, the first time that athletes to the World Athletics U20 Championships would ever be financially rewarded for their performances.