Nigerian sports philanthropist Kingsley Awodi has pledged cash rewards running into millions of naira for members of the national para-powerlifting team after their return from the 2026 African Open Para-Powerlifting Championship in Algeria.
Homecoming after Oran success
The squad touched down in Nigeria having captured a total of 49 medals over four days of action in Oran. Their haul included 32 gold medals, 12 silver medals and five bronze medals, with the team finishing second overall behind Egypt.
- Competition: 2026 African Open Para-Powerlifting Championship
- Location: Oran, Algeria
- Duration: Four days
- Overall placing: Second, behind Egypt
- Total medals: 49 (32 gold, 12 silver, 5 bronze)
Awodi announces prize money for each medal colour
Awodi met the athletes at the arrival hall and outlined the incentive structure for the medal winners. He said the gold medallists will each receive ₦1.5 million, silver medallists will be awarded ₦1 million, and bronze medallists will get ₦500,000.
- Gold medallists: ₦1.5 million each
- Silver medallists: ₦1 million each
- Bronze medallists: ₦500,000 each
Speaking on the gesture, Awodi said the rewards are about more than money, adding that they are meant to honour “sacrifice, hard work, and the courage to represent Nigeria with pride.”
Philanthropy and push for more private sector backing
Awodi’s involvement in sport is well established, with a history of direct financial support to athletes and major facilities. He has previously covered athletes’ grants out of his own pocket so competitors could train without financial distractions. During the period of former sports minister Sunday Dare, he also financed the re-grassing of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
He added to that backing in April by hosting and sponsoring the Kingsley Awodi Para-Powerlifting Championship in Abuja, which he said provided the squad with valuable competitive preparation ahead of the Algeria trip.
Looking ahead, Awodi urged the private sector to increase its participation, arguing that government funding alone would not be enough to maintain the programme’s momentum. He praised National Sports Commission chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and director general Hon. Bukola Olopade for their work, but said wider corporate support is now essential—especially with the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow moving closer.
Why the Algeria result matters
Nigeria’s para-power lifters are among the country’s most decorated performers on the continental stage, and the achievement in Oran further underlines their position as one of Africa’s leading programmes in the sport.
