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
VIP Spikers unveil Veronica Gyamfi following successful surgery after career-threatening injury
VIP Spikers have unveiled Veronica Gyamfi as their player, pledging to support her welfare and recovery after an injury sustained during last season’s CGC Volleyball Premier League.
The unveiling took place on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, with Samuel Onikeku, Head of Sports, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), performing the ceremony.
Gyamfi sustained the injury while representing Wikki during last season’s CGC Volleyball Premier League.
In a swift response, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Dr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi (MFR), and the President of Vipers sponsored her surgery at Dala Orthopedic Hospital in Kano, where she spent two weeks receiving medical attention.
Her signing by Vipers and Partners VC, popularly known as VIP Spikers, is expected to provide her with continued care and support as she progresses through recovery and works towards returning to competitive volleyball.
Meanwhile, Gyamfi was presented a brand new ASICS canvas and a branded jersey of VIP Spikers as it is believed she would return to play after completing her rehabilitation.
The intervention reflects the importance of athlete welfare in Nigerian sports, particularly the need to ensure that players who sustain injuries while representing their teams receive appropriate medical attention and rehabilitation support.
The sponsorship of Gyamfi’s surgery by the Comptroller-General, followed by her signing by VIP Spikers, highlights the potential impact of collaboration between sports authorities, competition sponsors and clubs in safeguarding athletes’ careers.
After the surgery Gyamfi has been undergoing physiotherapy sessions at the 44 Military Reference hospital in Kaduna as the Sporting Club is supporting her education at Kaduna State Polytechnic.
Gyamfi’s story offers an encouraging example of support for an athlete facing a difficult period in her career.
Her unveiling reinforces the message that volleyball development goes beyond competitions and trophies to include protecting players’ welfare and helping them return to the sport they love.
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