SPRF Gets Full Support of Sports Minister, Set for Launch

The Minister of Sports, Senator John Owan Enoh, Wednesday in Abuja met with representatives of the Sports Performance Reward Fund and described the project as a private sector fit that falls in line with the ‘new hope agenda’ of the Tinubu administration.

Senator Enoh said the initiative had the potential to galvanise sports development from the grassroots to Olympic heights as parents, coaches, stakeholders and business men and women see a sure reward at the end of the tunnel.

The SPRF is set up to raise N10 billion that will go directly to rewarding sportsmen and women who win at the Olympics, Commonwealth, All Africa Games and selected World Championships.

The Fund plans to reward Olympic gold with N10 million, Silver with M7.5 million and Bronze with M5 million. Commonwealth gold will attract N5 million, Silver N3 million and Bronze N2 million. The All-Africa Games gold will attract N3 million, silver N2 million and bronze N1 million while selected World Championships have the same rewards as the All-Africa Games.

The SPRF, represented by board of trustees member Arch/Dr Joe Adom Kyaagba and Godwin Kienka, the executive secretary, told the Minister that the transparency model of the Fund is full proof as all funds donated and expended will be posted on the website   – https://sprf.com.ng which is already up and running – for all to see. 

The Fund which has as one of its goals the attraction of massive private sector interest in sports and the instigation of a private sector led sports culture in Nigeria, has the following as members of the board of trustees: 

Engr/Dr Ahmadu Musa Kida former Deputy MD TotalEnergies Exploration and Production Nigeria and currently Non-Executive director; Odein Ajumogobia SAN, former Minister of Foreign affairs and Minister of State for Petroleum; Prof Wale Sulaiman, a world acclaimed Neuro-surgeon and President RNZ Global; Ifueko Omogui-Okauru former Chair FIRS and Dr Onye G. Achilihu a renowned Cardiovascular surgeon and MD Heartland Cardo Consultants.

Others are: Arch/Dr Kyaagba, Chief Consultant and CEO Capital Projects Consultants; Chief Tony Akiotu, MD DAAR Communications Ltd; DCP Chioma Ajunwa, Olympic gold medalist; Kanu Nwankwo OON, Olympic gold medalist and ex captain of the Super Eagles; Yusuf Datti, a financial Consultant and Director Dala Hard Courts and Mrs Patricia Sulaiman a director of RNZ Global who also serves as the Deputy Executive Secretary. 

The SPRF, according to the board, will be rolled out at a launch dinner in Abuja as soon as the Government confirms a date.