At 17, Ezeh Oluchi Jemimah Receives ₦1.5 Million Through the 2026 Athlete Impact Fund

At 17, sprinter Ezeh Oluchi Jemimah receives ₦1.5 million through AIF 2.0 to support her development.

The young Nigerian sprinter has been awarded ₦1.5 million through Paragon Sports Development Foundation’s Athlete Impact Fund 2.0 to support her athletic development and pursuit of greater opportunities in the sport.

At just 17 years old, Ezeh Oluchi Jemimah is steadily establishing herself as a young athlete with the ambition, discipline, and determination to compete at higher levels of athletics. Her journey, which began with a school sports competition in 2023, reflects the potential that can emerge when young athletes receive the right support and opportunities to develop.

Through the 2026 Athlete Impact Fund (AIF) 2.0, Paragon Sports Development Foundation (PSDF) has awarded Oluchi ₦1,500,000 to support her continued growth and help address some of the financial barriers affecting her athletic journey.

A Journey That Began at School

Oluchi’s interest in athletics took shape in 2023 during her school’s inter-house sports competition. She finished first in the 400m, 1500m, and 3000m, demonstrating her ability across multiple track events.

In 2024, she continued this progress at the Abuja Sports Festival, where she won the 400m, 1500m, 3000m, and 4×400m relay. The competition marked an important turning point in her development, as she met her coach and began formal training with Deft Athletics.

Since then, Oluchi has competed at MTN Champs, the National Youth Games, the Olympic Trials, and other national competitions, gaining valuable experience and continuing to develop as a sprinter.

Recording New Personal Bests in 2026

Oluchi’s progress has been reflected in her performances during the 2026 season.

At a national meet, she recorded 24.49 seconds in the 200m and 55.11 seconds in the 400m. She subsequently improved her 400m performance to 54.48 seconds at the All Nigeria competition in June.

These performances represent important steps in her development as she works toward improving her times, gaining more competitive experience, and pursuing opportunities to compete at higher levels.

Supporting Her Next Stage of Development

In her application to the Athlete Impact Fund, Oluchi explained that financial support would help her develop her talent, improve her performance, and access better training and competition opportunities.

For a young athlete working toward national and international ambitions, financial barriers can limit access to the resources and experiences needed for continued progress. The ₦1.5 million award is intended to help Oluchi address these challenges and continue pursuing her goals in athletics.

Her ambition is to keep improving, make the most of the opportunities available to her, and one day represent Nigeria on the global stage.

About the Athlete Impact Fund

The Athlete Impact Fund (AIF) is an initiative of Paragon Sports Development Foundation designed to support athletes and their development needs. Through the fund, PSDF seeks to help address barriers that prevent talented athletes from accessing resources and opportunities that can support their progress in sport.

The 2026 edition, AIF 2.0, continues this commitment by supporting athletes with development-focused funding and recognizing the importance of investing in their potential.

Oluchi’s award reflects the foundation’s belief that young athletes should have opportunities to develop their abilities and pursue their ambitions, regardless of the financial challenges they may face.

As she continues her journey, PSDF celebrates Oluchi’s dedication and looks forward to the progress ahead.

Paragon Sports Development Foundation (PSDF)

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