'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER - During a visit to the Games Village in Paris, the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, held a candid session with Team Nigeria athletes, followed by personal interactions to address their concerns. Among those who reached out directly to the Minister was Favour Ofili, a prominent sprinter, who expressed her distress about potential issues affecting her participation in her scheduled races.
According to a statement signed by the minister, in response, Minister Enoh took immediate action, contacting Professor Ken Anugweje, head of the Ministerial Podium Performance Committee, to address Ofili’s concerns. Anugweje assured the Minister that he was coordinating with Chief Solomon Ogba, the 1st Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), and that the issue was being handled.
Following Ofili’s distress, Enoh reached out to the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN). Samuel Onikeku, the Technical Director of AFN, confirmed that Ofili was registered for the 100m, 200m, and the 4x100m relay. The Secretary General of AFN also confirmed that the final list sent to the NOC, the body responsible for submitting athletes' lists to the International Olympic Committee, included Ofili for the 100m.
Enoh highlighted Ofili’s impressive track record, which includes being in the top eight at the World Championships, a Commonwealth Games silver medalist, an African Games champion, a former World U20 champion, and an African Senior Athletics Championships champion in the 200m.
The Minister expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation, labeling it as “utter recklessness” and announced that thorough investigations would be conducted to identify the source of this negligence. He emphasized that all parties involved must take their responsibilities seriously and that the current operations within the Federal Ministry of Sports Development do not tolerate incompetence.
As an immediate measure, Enoh directed the Athletic Federation of Nigeria and the Nigeria Olympic Committee to ensure that Favour Ofili is not deprived of the opportunity to compete in her registered events at the Paris Olympics. He reiterated the importance of allowing her to showcase her talents on the international stage.
Minister Enoh’s swift actions underscore his commitment to supporting Nigerian athletes and ensuring they are given every opportunity to succeed at the highest levels of competition.
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