TEAM Nigeria medallists Blessing Oborududu and Ese Brume were presented with their promised cash rewards on Wednesday.
Sports minister Sunday Dare on Tuesday, on behalf of the federal government, pledged to reward Nigerian medallists at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with $15,000 for gold, $10,000 for silver and $7,500 for bronze, tripling what was initially promised.
Dare delivered on the promise in Tokyo on Wednesday at a ceremony at the Grand Prince Hotel, handing out $10,000 cash to Oborududu and $7,500 to Brume.
Oborududu made history on Tuesday by winning Nigeria’s first-ever Olympic medal in wrestling, clinching silver in women’s freestyle 68kg.
Brume on her part won bronze in women’s long jump, claiming Nigeria’s first medal in athletics since the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
“There’s no point delaying the reinforcement of these athletes who have made the country proud, that is the reason they were rewarded immediately for their record-breaking performances,” Dare said.
Oborududu said she was grateful to the Nigerian government and the country’s citizens for their support.
“I am just super excited and I want to say thank you to all my supporters and the Federal Government of Nigeria for the encouragement,” she said.
