Sports

Sports Minister Leads Ministerial Retreat on Athletes Performance at 2024 Olympic and Africa Games

Published

2 years ago

December 13, 2023

Joel Ajayi

says sports achievement is a barometer for evaluating effective and meaningful governance

The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh is leading a ministerial retreat on athletes’ performance at the 2024 Olympic and 2024 Africa Games, which focuses on addressing some of the factors responsible for the poor performance of Nigerian athletes at international sports competitions.

In his inaugural address on Wednesday, Senator Enoh emphasized the imperative nature of evaluating strategies pertinent to training regimens, athlete and official codes of conduct, anti-doping education, and the pivotal roles of National Sports Federations in ensuring podium success at the 2024 Africa Games in Ghana and the forthcoming Olympic/Paralympic Games in Paris, France.

“I would like to commend my resource persons who have been working assiduously behind the scenes towards Nigeria’s preparation and participation to podium success,” the Minister said. “I have implicit confidence in the capability of the team to make this retreat meaningful.”

He said that the Ministry of Sports Development will use the retreat to address performance-hindering issues such as lack of identifiable process to improve the performance of athletes, lack of professionalism from sports administrators, athletes and athletes support personnel, funding and late release of funds, athletes’ preparation (in terms of good training programs), anti-doping education, and lack of scientific approach to training programs.

Enoh added that the team of resource persons will henceforth function as the Ministerial Podium Performance monitoring team. The team will monitor the preparations of federation athletes for the 2024 Africa Games and Olympic/Paralympic Games in Accra, Ghana, and Paris, France respectively. He concluded that all monitoring activities are to be reported to his office regularly.

He declared the retreat open and reiterated that success in sports is a barometer for evaluating effective and meaningful governance at all levels.

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Sports

FAME Foundation to the World: Para Athletes Need Empowerment, Not Sympathy

Published

4 hours ago

October 8, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi
The founder of FAME Foundation (Female Advocacy, Mentoring, and Empowerment), Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi, has called on the global community to support, not pity, para athletes.

Speaking at the recently concluded Play the Game 2025 Conference held in Tampere, Finland, Atoyebi emphasized that athletes with physical challenges require empowerment, policy support, and inclusion not sympathy.

Aderonke, a fearless journalist and lifelong advocate for women and girls in sports, has consistently championed the rights of marginalized groups through her foundation.

Known for her bold and passionate advocacy, she reiterated that para athletes deserve the same opportunities and resources as their able-bodied counterparts.

The international conference, held from October 5th to 8th, brought together journalists, policymakers, and global stakeholders to discuss pressing issues under the theme: “Breaking Barriers in Sports: Integration of Marginalized Groups and Persons with Disabilities.”

Delivering a powerful and interactive lecture, Atoyebi stated: “I want to conclude by saying that para athletes around the globe need our support, policy reviews, and implementation—not our pity. They don’t need sympathy; what they truly need is empowerment.”

Her impactful contribution at the event further amplified Africa’s voice in the global call for inclusion, equality, and policy-driven change in the world of sports.

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