Relieve has come the way of Nigerian athletes as they have received payment from the Athletes Relief Fund set up to mitigate the effect of not competing due to the effect of Covid-19.
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mr. Sunday Dare directed the payment of funds to the Nigerian athletes to provide some relief due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The payments which commenced Wednesday, is being drawn from the Athletes Relief Fund established about 2 weeks ago by the Minister. A few sports philanthropists like Remo Stars Chairman Honourable Kunle Soname and and others had lend support to the ARF with donations of 11 Million for the take-off of the athletes relief fund.
The sum of fifty thousand Naira is being paid into the accounts of the athletes from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) account of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development. Over 200 athletes are expected to benefit from the fund.
It would be recalled that the Minister had floated a relief fund for the athletes whose source of earnings has ceased as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic following the suspension of all major sporting events in the world.
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As if taking a cue from Nigeria, World Athletics Governing Board had on Wednesday floated a similar athletes relief fund with $500 MIllion to provide succour to athletes around the world.
More donations are expected to be made into the Nigerian Athletes relief fund.