At last, marathoners receive payment as NGO Indicts organizers

..Fults MTN’s feeding athletes only lunch, water in 6 days Championship

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

Following the recent 14 days ultimatum by the Athletics and Other Sports Development Initiative(AOSDI) to MTN, Making of Champions, Nilayo sports marketing company, Athletics Federation of Nigeria(AFN) and Premium Trust Bank athletes have started receiving their honorarium. 

Regretted that after denials and counter denials some of the sponsors have started paying with NILAYO Sports Marketing company, whose Managing Director before now was Bukola Olopade, currently Director General(DG) of National Sports Commission (NSC) commenced paying runners for two races respectively.

In a statement issued on Sunday 27 April in Abuja signed by Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe, Chairman Board of Trustees of AOSDI wondered why sponsors of marathons in Nigeria would wait until they are compelled by third parties.

The NGO has proudly reported that athletes are now happy after a long wait as runners that took part in Premium Trust Bank Marathon in Abuja and LOTUS Marathon, Abeokuta have been received theirs.

The release partly read,
“In the same vein, NILAYO has two more commitments it has not honoured. Access Bank Marathon, Lagos (41km) runners are yet to get their cash prices.

“Is it not ludicrous how big brands could sponsor and organize competitions and won’t honour commitment to invited runners and probably wait for the public to notice and shout before waking up to their responsibilities?

“Access Bank Marathon, with Nilayo as organizer is among sponsors indebted to athletes and therefore, have 14 days to honour their commitments.

“We have our searchlight everywhere for defaulting sponsors and organizers in all sports, cross states of the federation.
“As an NGO, we are appealing to those still in the habit of owing athletes to swallow their pride and pay up.”

Garba, the NGO’s chairman who is also the Chairman CEO, Green White Green Sports Center Ltd and chairman, Gombe Athletics Association went on to say, “It is not a question of going to Court or verbal threat, it’s a matter of doing the needful.
The Making of Champions (MoC) are threatening to go to Court over its failure to pay athletes subsidies for logistics, feeding, transportation during 2024 Jos MTN Champs which the company claimed to be false.
Should they (MoC) go to court, that would be great, MTN will then reveal the amount paid for the Champs and the sum athletes deserve to get as subsidies.
The NGO finds it ridiculous for Cadet athletes U-14, U-15 U-17 -U20 to be invited for 6 days MTN Champs only to be served with lunch and water, Where are there breakfast and dinner?

“The organizers, MoC through the Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF) asked for account numbers and now it’s one year, no news of payment. Can you treat your own child like this?

“We won’t submit to any court threat, if you take us there, we shall meet there.
Good enough, Athletes from Gombe Athletics Academy that participated are all alive. Can MTN give athletes lunch and water for 6 days Championship in South Africa. It’s really unacceptable.

“We would like to use this opportunity to sincerely apologize to MoC head Coach Deji Aliu whose name was mistakingly mentioned. When the organizers phone number was needed, Deji Aliu’s name was given and that led to an error of his name being mentioned and we sincerely apologize.

The Making of Champions, (MoC), the organizer of MTN Champs, still have a case to answer.
You can delay payment for service providers, food vendors, even the media for whatever reasons but for athletes who sweat to participate must be paid immediately.

We also have our tentacles extended to other Sports that have not been paying, we are still investigating and soon make them public”.