By Ojimaojo Y Abubakar
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) under the leadership of Hon. Engr. Ibrahim Shehu-Gusau in conjunction with the International Athletics Foundation (IAF) has launched US$500,000 fund to support professional athletes experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement signed by the President of Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Hon. Engr. Ibrahim Shehu-Gusua, formally notifies all the Nigerian professional Athletics athletes about the initiative.
Hon Gusua, who is also the vice president, Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) and president, Confederation of African Athletics, Region II, said the fund, according to WA president, Sebastian Coe, who also chairs the IAF would be used to assist athletes who have lost most of their income in the last few months due to the suspension of international competition, while the world combats the global health emergency.
“Established in 1986 to support charitable causes involving Athletics’, the IAF like, under the Honorary presidency of H.S.H. princes Albert I of Monaco, has allocated resources from its budget for 2020 and 2021 to assist athletes in need through this process.
‘’In view of the above, AFN invites Nigerians professional Athletes who desire to benefit from support to forward their application to the AFN ([email protected]).”
“These will be forward through the appropriate channel, to the multi-regional working group set to assess the application for assistance’’.