Sports
AFN Set Up 5-Man Committee For Africa Games, Olympics, Others
Joel Ajayi
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), has set up a 5-man committee to raise a formidable athletics team for the Africa Games, the World in-door Championship, and the Olympics Games hold in Paris.
The decision was taken at the Board meeting on January 6, 2024. The 5-man committee is headed by Commodore Omatseye Nesiama (rtd).
Other members are the Technical Director of the federation, Samuel Onikeku, Amb. Manta Haruna Mohammed, Mrs. Maria Wophill, and Dr. Solomon Alao, while an official of the AFN secretariat will serve as committee secretary.
Terms of reference of the committee is to put in place a formidable athletics squad (from home and abroad) to fly the nation’s flag at the Africa Games, the World In-door Championship, and the Olympics Games in Paris.
The AFN board also dissolved all its committees after serving two years as agreed upon at the beginning of its tenure.
The Board has approved its Safeguarding Policy Committee.
The Board also set up a 3-man Committee to fashion out appropriate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the committees, which would soon be set up by the federation.
This Committee is headed by Dr. Solomon Alao, with Mrs. Maria Wophill and Prof Emmanuel Ojeme as members. The 3-member committee is to draw up SOPs/Terms of Reference for the new Committees that will be set up as their Operational Guidelines.
The AFN Board also deliberated on the Audit Committee Report and applauded the members for their efforts. However, the Board did not uphold the particular recommendation, which tagged the various funds loaned to the federation by the President, Chief Tonobok Okowa, as ‘donations’ and thus required him to make a refund of part of his reimbursement collected.
On its part, the Board unanimously agreed that Chief Okowa should be refunded his money as soon as funds is available. This applies to all other members who have loaned out monies to the Federation as well.
Regarding the Audit Committee recommendation that the Secretary General of the AFN, Rita Mosindi, be removed, the Board, while deliberating, observed that it does not have the power to remove the SG as it did not appoint her.
The Board also observed that apart from apologizing both verbally and in writing to the Board, Mosindi has been under close watch and seen to be truly remorseful and demonstrated that she has changed, and is ready to work with the Board to attain its ultimate goals. As such, the Board agreed to give her a severe reprimand and advised her to ‘sin no more’. Failing the Board would be left with no option but to approach the Ministry of Sports to do the needful.
Board Members who attended the meeting held on Zoom were:1. CHIEF TONOBOK OKOWA2. COMMODORE OMATSEYE NESIAMA (RTD)3. AMB. MANTA HARUNA MOHAMMED4. PROF. EMMANUEL OJEME5. MR. SAMUEL ONIKEKU6. DR. SOLOMON ALAO7. MRS. MARIA WOPHILL8. HON. YUSUF LIMAN DAHIRU (SENT AN APOLOGY FROM SAUDI ARABIA)9. RITA MOSINDI – SECRETARY GENERAL
Sports
No crisis in NAWIS ahead of AFN elections on Monday
Joel Ajayi
The Association of Nigerian Women in Sports (NAWIS), known for its orderliness since its establishment in 1990, continues to uphold its standards ahead of the upcoming Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) elections.
With members across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, NAWIS has consistently operated without external interference.
Over the years, its members have been nominated to various boards of national sports federations after meeting established criteria, including the payment of annual dues.
The association has attracted a strong base of respected sportswomen who have served the country with distinction, both during and after their active careers.
In preparation for the AFN elections, zonal elections were conducted on June 2 and 3, producing representatives for the national exercise.
While NAWIS initially planned to hold its election in Zaria, Kaduna State, the association’s headquarters, it was later rescheduled for Abuja on Monday, June 9, following directives from higher authorities.
Importantly, NAWIS has a set of strict guidelines that govern its electoral process, particularly the requirement for timely payment of annual dues. Failure to meet this condition results in automatic disqualification.
This guideline was the basis for the disqualification of Maria Wophil, who has reportedly not paid her annual dues since 2017. Her attempt to hurriedly settle outstanding debts just before the election was deemed non-compliant with NAWIS regulations.
Who is Fatima Yusuf-Olukoju?
Commonwealth gold medallist Fatima Yusuf-Olukoju is one of the leading contenders for the NAWIS representative position in the AFN.
She made history as the first African woman to run the 400m in under 50 seconds and brought glory to Nigeria by winning a silver medal in the 4x400m relay at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics.
Yusuf-Olukoju also claimed gold in the 400m at the 1991 All-Africa Games and silver in the 200m.
Based on nominations and her track record, Yusuf-Olukoju is considered the most qualified candidate. However, three other contenders have also shown interest, and the final decision will be made in the election slated for Monday, June 9, in Abuja.
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