Joel Ajayi 

As Team Nigeria gears up towards the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the Honorable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, on Wednesday, took a significant step towards ensuring the country’s exceptional outing on the global stage, as he inaugurated the Ministerial Strategic Committee at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

 In an assertive move towards meticulous planning and strategic execution, the Committee will spearhead Nigeria’s preparations for the upcoming Games.
The inauguration of this Committee underscores the Minister’s unwavering commitment to fostering excellence in sports and providing the necessary support to Nigeria’s athletes. 

Led by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, the Committee comprises distinguished members renowned for their expertise and passion for sports development. 

The Minister stated that the strategic committee is entrusted with the crucial task of orchestrating crucial plans towards a successful Olympic Games appearance.
“In order to ensure adequate preparations and effective participation of Team Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, The Federal Ministry of Sports Development has therefore constituted the Ministerial Strategic Committee to recommend strategies and modalities towards a successful outing of Nigeria at both Games, the Minister stated.

 “This Committee is made up of eminently qualified Nigerians who have served this country in various capacities. They were carefully selected based on their track record and relevant experiences.

The Minister reeled out the terms of reference of the committee charging them to discharge their responsibility for the collective good of the country, including determining shared objectives/targets and reviewing performances of National Sports Federations vis-a-viz the medals projections for each sport.

With Nigeria’s best olympic appearance dating back to the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, the Minister charged the Committee to surpass Team Nigeria’s medal haul of 1996, where Nigeria won gold medals in football and long jump, amongst other medals.

“As you go on to perform this critical national assignment, I want to urge the members of the committee to exert positive energy, intellect and experience to ensure that Nigeria surpasses its previous  performance at the Games,” Senator Enoh said.

The committee comprises: Alh. Ismaila Abubakar as chairman, and Amaka Ashiofu as Member/Secretary. 

Other members include: Dr. Paul Onyeudo, Mr. Patrick Okeke, Mrs. Thecia Opara, Engr. Abolore Alanamu, Mr. Olufehinti Olusegun, Mr. Tunde Popoola, Mr. Suleiman Issa, Mr. Olumide bamiduro, Mr. Brendan Ndifon, Prince Ebuta Ayuk, Barr. Danladi Ibrahim, and Mr. Abubakaar Waziri.

Speaking after the Committee’s  inauguration, chairman, Alh. Abubakar stated that the team will do its best to make Nigeria proud, as it will work meticulously to ensure smooth preparations and execution of all plans. He said they will leave no stone unturned to deliver on all terms of reference assigned to them.

With qualifying series for Paris 2024 still on across various sports, eight Nigerian athletes have already qualified for the Games thus far – 3 track and field athletes, 3 boxers, one wrestler, and one cyclist. In the coming weeks, this number will increase significantly, as more qualifying tournaments are concluded. 

For the Paralympic Games, the country has picked two tickets in para-athletics, 9 in para-table tennis, while 8 athletes are currently on the pathway to qualification in para-powerlifting.

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