Sports
Favour Ofili, AFN, and the NOC
On July 28, 2024, as Minister of Sports Development, I visited and addressed Team Nigeria athletes at the Games Village in Paris. It was a no holds barred session. Thereafter, I had my usual personal interaction with the athletes to allow them to express their concerns directly to me, which has been my tradition as Minister of Sports. In addition,i have continued to encourage athletes to reach me directly on any concerns.
In hindsight, when Ofili had issues at the African Championships in Douala, I reached out to get her side of the story, and this time, it hasn’t been different. Favour Ofili reached me directly, expressing her concern for her races.Immediately I called Professor Ken Anugweje, the lead of the Ministerial Podium Performance Committee, to ensure that Ofili’s issues are thoroughly addressed. He got back to me shortly after to say he was in touch with the 1st Vice President of NOC, Chief Solomon Ogba, and that the matter was being handled.
Upon hearing Ofili’s distress this morning, I reached out to the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN). The Technical Director, Samuel Onikeku, stated categorically that Favour Ofili was registered for the 100m, 200m, and the 4x100m relay. The Secretary General of AFN has also insisted that the final list forwarded by her to NOC (the only body the International Olympic Committee receives the final list of athletes from), had Ofili listed for the 100m as well. I am in touch with the President of the NOC on this and await his explanation.
Ofili has been in the top eight at the World Championships. She is a Commonwealth Games silver medalist, an African Games champion, a former World U20 champion, and an African Senior Athletics Championships champion in the 200m.
As Minister of Sports, I will not tolerate this utter recklessness. It is highly inexcusable, and there will be thorough sanctions after investigations into where and from whom this gross negligence originated. All parties must take their duties very seriously. The current way of operating the Federal Ministry of Sports Development does not allow for incompetence at any level.
As an immediate measure, the Athletic Federation of Nigeria and the Nigeria Olympic Committee must ensure that Favour Ofili is not deprived of the opportunity to compete in the races for which she is qualified and registered to represent the country at the Paris Olympics. She is committed to proving her mettle.
Sports
Chinese Embassy seeks better Collaboration with the National Sports Commission
…Commit to establishing a dedicated China-Nigeria Sports communication channel
Joel Ajayi
The Chinese Government has intensified bilateral relationships with the Nigerian Government through the National Sports Commission, NSC, following the visa glitch that led to Team Nigeria withdrawing from the World relays in Guangzhou, China.
This landmark feat was achieved when officials of the Chinese Embassy paid a diplomatic visit to the leadership of the National Sports Commission.
Culture Counselor of the Chinese Embassy Yang Jian Xing expressed regrets over the visa challenges that prompted Nigeria to withdraw from the World relays and pledged China’s commitments to the country’s vision for Sports Development.
” I want to describe what has happened as an accident and we are sorry and we regret it in its entirety. We are here to let the Sports Commission know that the Chinese Government holds Nigeria of high esteem”.
” We are open to better collaboration with the National Sports Commission to boost diplomatic ties of both China and Nigeria in terms of Sports Training and Exchange programmes”.
” Once again I want to assure you that from next time we will try our best for this not to repeat itself again and we will also like to create a special channel for a China and Nigeria Sports Communication”, he added.
Chairman of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, said the Commission has accepted the gestures of regrets by the Chinese Government and are ready to foster better collaboration for the future.
” We are very happy to receive officials from the Chinese Embassy in our office today and it shows the Chinese Government genuine disappointment for what happened which for us is a huge sign of better things to come between both countries especially in Sports”.
” We should at all times try to create positives out of things like this and we are happy that this has further strengthened our relationship with the Chinese Embassy”.
The Director General of the NSC Hon. Bukola Olopade reiterated the Commission’s desire to build stronger sporting ties with China and allowed the incident of the visa glitch to serve as a springboard to a robust working relationship.
” Your humility and diplomacy is the best I have seen anywhere and I am very grateful that you best described the incident between the AFN, the Commission and your embassy as an accident and we have all agreed to take it as such and move forward to better things”.
” I want to thank you for everything and for the request for exchange programmes and training for our media and Sports men and women.This is truly worthy of note . We are looking forward to a bigger and better relationship between Nigeria and China”, he concluded.
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