The Investigative Committee set up by the former Sports Minister John Enoh to unravel the country’s woeful performance at the Paris Olympics and Paralympics has officially submitted a comprehensive report revealing critical insights into the issues surrounding Team Nigeria participation at the Paris Olympics.
Blueprint sport report that Nigeria failed to win any medals at the end of the 2024 Paris Olympics, held between the 26th of July, and the 11th of August, 2024.
Added to the failure to secure any medals were the controversies, including the exclusion of Ofili from the Women’s 100m race, and the revelation by Ese Ukpeseraye that she had to borrow a track bike from the German team to compete.
In its report made available to journalists on Monday, the Committee Chairman, Mumini Alao, stated that the omission of Ofili’s name was traceable to the following organisations: the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), the Nigeria Olympic Committee, World Athletics, and the International Olympic Committee.
In a 54-page document, the committee highlighted the conflicting evidence regarding Favour Ofili’s omission from the women’s 100 meters event, pointing to potential lapses by various organizations, including the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).
While the investigation found insufficient evidence to wrongly indict any specific organization, it concluded that AFN Secretary General Rita Mosindi displayed negligence in communicating Favour Ofili’s event status.
The report recommends penalties for Mosindi and suggests that AFN’s Technical Director, Samuel Onikeku, should be sanctioned for failing to act on information regarding Ofili’s registration. The committee also urged the AFN to compensate Ofili for the distress caused by her omission, alongside calls for better governance and transparency among sports bodies in Nigeria.
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AF) by vicarious implication should pay the athlete, Favour Ofili, a symbolic compensation of N&million Naira only (about $5,000 US Dollars) for the disappointment and depression that she suffered on account of her omission from the women’s 100 meters event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
In the report submitted to the Nigeria Sports Commission, with its chairman Shehu Dikko approving its release to journalist , the committee recommended that the country needs to improve its sports governance system.
Central to the committee’s findings is the need for a written code of governance between the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and the Ministry of Sports Development. This move is intended to enhance transparency and trust, preventing future controversies like the one that impacted Nigeria’s participation in the Games.
The committee has also advised all sports federations to develop specific codes of conduct for athletes and emphasized the importance of anti-doping measures. Furthermore, they recommended that the Ministry of Sports Development implement a private-sector-led funding approach to address the chronic issue of inadequate funding for Nigerian sports. This strategic shift aims to bolster grassroots sports development and improve the overall infrastructure necessary for athlete training and preparation.
