At 17, Abioye Abdulkhafid Olawale Receives ₦1 Million Through the Athlete Impact Fund 2.0

A 200m and 400m athlete and founder of De Bunar receives ₦1 million under the Athlete Entrepreneurship category.

Paragon Sports Development Foundation announces 17-year-old Abioye Abdulkhafid Olawale as a ₦1 million beneficiary of the 2026 Athlete Impact Fund under the Athlete Entrepreneurship category.

At 17, Abioye Abdulkhafid Olawale is building a future that extends beyond athletics. As a 200m and 400m athlete with Arena Athletics Academy and the founder of De Bunar, a footwear and clothing brand, he is pursuing two ambitions: developing as an athlete and turning his passion for creativity and shoemaking into a sustainable business.

His journey reflects the discipline, resilience, and consistency that sport can instil in young people—and how those qualities can be applied to opportunities beyond competition.

Building a business beyond the track

Abioye has personal bests of 11.04 seconds in the 100m, 23.00 seconds in the 200m, and 50.50 seconds in the 400m. Away from the track, he is channeling his creativity into De Bunar, with the ambition of growing the footwear and clothing brand and reaching more customers.

Like many young entrepreneurs, however, turning an idea into a sustainable business requires more than passion. Access to suitable equipment, production materials, and other essential resources can make a meaningful difference in a business’s ability to grow.

In his application to the Athlete Impact Fund 2.0, Abioye identified the need for production equipment and materials to improve De Bunar’s production capacity, strengthen the brand, expand its customer reach, and support long-term sustainability.

He applied under the Athlete Entrepreneurship category, requesting ₦1.5 million to support these business development needs.

Following the selection process, Abioye was awarded ₦1 million through the 2026 Athlete Impact Fund to support his entrepreneurial journey.

Investing in young athlete entrepreneurs

At just 17, Abioye represents the potential of young athletes who are developing interests, skills, and ambitions beyond competitive sport. His vision for De Bunar demonstrates how creativity and the discipline cultivated through athletics can become a foundation for entrepreneurship.

The grant is intended to support the resources needed to improve production and strengthen the business as it grows. For Abioye, this support represents an opportunity to take practical steps toward turning his passion for shoemaking and fashion into a more established enterprise.

Through the Athlete Impact Fund, Paragon Sports Development Foundation recognizes that athletes have aspirations beyond the track and field. Supporting those aspirations can help create pathways toward business development, greater independence, and sustainable opportunities for the future.

Beyond the finish line

At Paragon Sports Development Foundation, we believe athletic potential can create opportunities far beyond competition. By investing in athletes’ ideas and ambitions, we aim to help them build stronger futures through sport and beyond.

Abioye Abdulkhafid Olawale is one of the beneficiaries of the 2026 Athlete Impact Fund. We congratulate him on this achievement and look forward to following his progress as he continues developing De Bunar while pursuing his athletic ambitions.

About the Athlete Impact Fund

The Athlete Impact Fund is an initiative of Paragon Sports Development Foundation that supports athletes through funding for identified needs, ideas, and development goals. The initiative seeks to address barriers, expand opportunities, and help athletes build stronger futures both within and beyond sport.