By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has received a major boost ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games Trials with the introduction of a N1.6 million performance-based reward scheme aimed at motivating home-based athletes and coaches.
The initiative, tagged the Ben Aghazu Prize for Excellence in Athletics, was instituted by the AFN’s Second Vice President, Akuchukwu Chineze Aghazu, in honour of her late father, Ben Aghazu. It will reward athletes who achieve predetermined performance standards during the Commonwealth Games Trials scheduled for June 20 to 22 in Lagos.
Under the scheme, athletes who meet the benchmarks set by the AFN Technical Committee in 14 selected events will receive N100,000 each. The reward package covers men’s and women’s 100m, 200m, 400m, 1500m, 5000m, long jump and javelin events.
Aghazu also announced special Excellence in Athletics Awards for two outstanding coaches, one male and one female, in recognition of their contributions to athlete development.
Speaking on the initiative, Aghazu said the objective was to encourage home-based athletes to strive for international standards while appreciating coaches who play critical roles in their success.
“The intention is to support and encourage our home-based athletes and outstanding coaches,” she stated.
AFN President, Chief Tonobok Okowa, commended the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention that would inspire athletes to deliver their best performances at the trials.
“I am excited by this thoughtful initiative from our Second Vice President, Aku Aghazu. This is the kind of support that motivates our home-based athletes to give their very best during these all-important Commonwealth Games Trials,” said Okowa, who is also Senior Vice President of the Confederation of African Athletics.
He noted that performance-based incentives remain an effective tool for driving excellence and fostering healthy competition among athletes.
Okowa further called on corporate organisations, private sector stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians to support athletics development in the country.
“There is enormous talent in Nigeria and with the right support, our athletes can continue to make the nation proud on the global stage,” he added.
To qualify for the N100,000 reward, athletes must attain specific performance marks. In the men’s 100m, the benchmark is 10.10 seconds, while women must clock 11.20 seconds. The standards for the 200m are 20.60 seconds for men and 22.70 seconds for women, while the 400m targets are 45.30 seconds and 51.00 seconds respectively.
For the 1500m, athletes must achieve 3:50.00 for men and 4:20.00 for women, while the 5000m benchmarks are 14:00.00 and 17:50.00 respectively. Long jump targets have been fixed at 7.90 metres for men and 6.50 metres for women, while javelin throw athletes must achieve 81 metres and 55 metres respectively.
Should athletes attain the qualifying standards across all 14 events, the AFN could disburse a total of N1.6 million during the three-day competition.
Beyond the financial rewards, the initiative is expected to reinforce a culture of excellence and recognition within Nigerian athletics while honouring the legacy of the late Ben Aghazu through the development of the sport.
