• Commission not depending on govt to fund athletes’ grants
• Nigeria to host Africa U-20 Championships, relay in Abeokuta
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has said that it advised the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to postpone elections into the board of the federation scheduled to start today at the zonal level.
In a letter addressed to AFN President, Tonobok Okowa, and signed by the Commission’s Director General, Bukola Olopade, the NSC said the advice became necessary to ensure fairness and transparency, as well as the timing of the elections.
“The Commission is finalising a comprehensive set of election guidelines to ensure that the process is credible, inclusive, and aligns with best practices,” it said.
It also said that the elections were scheduled at the same time as the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State, adding: “With the National Sports Festival fast approaching, the Commission’s attention and resources are fully committed to ensuring a successful outing.
“It is in the best interest of all stakeholders that the elections do not conflict with preparations and activities related to the Festival,” the NSC wrote.
It added: “This letter serves to formally advise the Federation to postpone its upcoming elections, including the zonal elections into various positions, until mid June 2025.”
The tenure of the present AFN board ends on June 15, 2025, which means the NSC, by the powers conferred on it by Article 31 of the AFN constitution, can dissolve the board on that date if the AFN Congress fails to do so.
The article states thus: “The AFN Board will be dissolved by the Congress at the expiration of four years in office before the election of a new board.
“If Congress fails to dissolve the board, the board shall be dissolved by the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development’s pronouncement.”
Meanwhile, Olapade has declared that funds used in paying grants to elite stars by the NSC came from the private sector. The NSC dished out $20,000 to each elite athlete a few weeks ago, an action the athletes have applauded.
The NSC’s Elite Athletes and Podium Development Board had selected 78 athletes from across major sporting federations to benefit from the grants. The beneficiaries divided into three categories are all medal prospects that the country will use to prosecute the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Olopade said: “Unlike in the past when the NSC waited for every fund to come from the government, we have to change that narrative.
“The funds used in paying the grants were sought from the private sector. The government has not put a dime. That is how it should be. We do not need to pile up pressure on the federal government for funds all the time.
“The NSC chairman, Shehu Dikko, and I are doing everything that we can to see that our athletes are adequately prepared for international competitions because the days of Nigeria just going there to participate are over. We have to win medals.”
Olopade also revealed that the NSC has concluded plans to host the Africa U-20 Athletics Championships at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex, Abeokuta in July.
Abeokuta is already in a festive mood waiting to host Nigerian athletes in the 22nd National Sports Festival from May 16 to 30. He said that the NSC decided to host the Africa U-20 Championships in Abeokuta to keep the facilities busy, adding that the commission will also use the occasion to organise a relay competition, where Team Nigeria and some other nations can vie for qualification tickets to the World Athletics Championships holding in Tokyo, Japan, in September.
Team Nigeria pulled out of the trip to the World Relays in China last weekend due to visa issues.
“The primary goal of the trip to China was for Team Nigeria to pick tickets for the World Championships in Japan. But the trip didn’t work out. We are hosting the African U-20 Championships in Abeokuta, Ogun State in July, so we are looking at having a relay championship at the same time. All is not lost for our athletes. They can still qualify for the World Championships. We are going to invite some of the countries who did not also go to China for the World Relays,” Olopade stated.
