Nigeria’s para powerlifters have got their 2026 Commonwealth Games campaign off to a flying start, scooping up $18,000 (roughly ₦27.5 million) in performance bonuses following an impressive opening round in Scotland.
The payout follows a pre-tournament pledge by the National Sports Commission (NSC) to incentivize success, offering cumulative bonuses of $8,000 for gold, $5,000 for silver, and $3,000 for bronze. Live footage and photographs from Friday’s events showed NSC officials presenting cash gifts directly to the triumphant lifters.
Esther Nworgu led the charge by securing Nigeria’s first gold medal of the Games in the women’s lightweight division. Nworgu, a silver medallist at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, set a new Games record of 119.0 points. Her gold medal performance earned her an instant $3,000 bonus alongside an additional $5,000, bringing her total reward to $8,000.
Compatriot Esther Oyema took silver in the same event with 115.5 points, picking up a total payout of $5,000 ($2,000 instant reward plus $3,000 extra), while England’s Olivia Broome settled for bronze on 106.6 points.
In the men’s lightweight category, 50-year-old veteran Roland Ezuruike earned Nigeria’s very first podium finish of the Games, claiming silver with 153.9 points and bagging a $5,000 bonus. Ezuruike narrowly missed out on gold after a failed final lift allowed England’s Mark Swan to snatch victory on a tiebreak after both ended on equal points. Malaysia’s Bonnie Bunyau Gustin claimed bronze.
Nigeria’s early commanding display underlines its long-standing dominance in international para powerlifting. Officials remain confident as competition gets underway, with the official squad comprising a mix of seasoned champions and rising talents selected following strong domestic and international form.
With reigning world champion Folasade Oluwafemiayo and several other lifters yet to compete, Team Nigeria will be eager to expand its medal haul in the coming days as the country rallies behind its athletes.