THE probe panel set up by the now defunct sports ministry to investigate the failings at the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics has made its report public.
The committee was set up by then sports minister John Enoh following Team Nigeria’s dismal showing at the Olympics, where the country did not win a single medal despite a budget of billions of naira, and the Paralympics.
According to the Chairman of the committee, leading sports journalist Dr Mumini Alao, the report was submitted to Enoh on October 22, with new National Sports Commission Chairman, Shehu Dikko, approving its release.
Among the recommendations of the committee is an N8 million compensation for Favour Ofili, who was denied the opportunity to compete in the women’s 100m despite qualifying for the event.
Ofili was somehow not registered for the event due to administrative lapses, and the committee prescribed that she be paid by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria for ‘disappointment and depression that she
suffered on account of her omission’.
Senior officials of the AFN, Rita Mosindi and Samuel Onikeku, are recommended for punishment for their roles in Ofili’s omission, while the committee advised the athlete to improve her conduct.
The panel also recommended a code of governance for the Nigeria Olympic Committee and the sports ministry (now NSC), and demanded an apology from cyclist Ese Ukpeseraye, who caused public outrage when she revealed that she was bailed out by the Germans in one of her events as she did not have the proper bicycle to participate.
The panel also advised the government to provide better and more timely funding for athletes, and called for improved testing for performance-enhancing drugs.
FULL REPORT
NIGERIA AT PARIS 2024 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMIC GAMES
INAUGURATED BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF SPORTS
DEVELOPMENT, SENATOR JOHN OWAN ENOH, ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2024.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE COMMITTEE’S RESOLUTIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee submitted a comprehensive 54-page report featuring testimonies of the personalities involved, digital and documentary evidence and annexures.
Below are the highlights of the committee’s resolutions and recommendations.
1. Conflicting evidences showed that the Nigerian athlete, Favour Ofili’s omission
from the women’s 100 meters event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is traceable
to any one of the following organizations: The Athletics Federation of Nigeria
(AFN), Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), World Athletics (WA) and the
International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Committee was very mindful not to
WRONGLY INDICT anyone on the basis of conflicting, inconclusive evidences.
2. Conclusive evidence revealed, however, that the Secretary General of the AFN,
Mrs. Rita Mosindi, was NEGLIGENT in her duty of communicating to the
Ministry of Sports Development and the Nigeria Olympic Committee information
about Favour Ofili’s event status in a reliable and timely manner. Mrs. Mosindi
should be PENALIZED by the appropriate authority.
3. Conclusive evidence also revealed that the Technical Director of AFN, Mr.
Samuel Onikeku, demonstrated POOR JUDGEMENT by not reporting nor acting
on information about the non-registration of his own athlete, Favour Ofili, for the
women’s 100 meters event when he first got a “hint” of the “rumour.” Ofili’s
situation might have been rescued if the Technical Director had reported or acted
immediately on the information that he received. Mr. Onikeku should be
SANCTIONED by the Board of AFN of which he is a member.
4. The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) by vicarious implication should pay
the athlete, Favour Ofili, a symbolic compensation of N8 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.
5. Mr. Samuel Fadele and Mr. Emmanuel Nweri of the Nigeria Olympic Committee
(NOC) should be WARNED not to rely on social media applications as a means
of important official communication in the future. Physical documents and/or
Emails remain the acceptable standards for official communication.
6. The athlete, Favour Ofili, should take an introspective look at her general
ATTITUDE to improve her relationships with co-athletes and officials.
7. The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and the Ministry of Sports Development
should jointly develop a written CODE OF GOVERNANCE to improve synergy
of operations and close the communication gaps between both organizations.
8. The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) should be more transparent in its
relationship with the Ministry of Sports Development. Had the NOC been more
open, its legally-binding kitting contract with an American sportswear
manufacturer, Actively Black Company, would not have suffered any risk of
breach and caused any controversy or embarrassment to Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The Ministry and the NOC should eschew mutual suspicion and
promote TRANSPARENCY and MUTUAL TRUST in their interactions for the
benefit of Nigerian sports and the athletes.
9. The cyclist, Ese Ukpeseraye, should write a FORMAL APOLOGY to the Nigeria
Cycling Federation (NCF) for the embarrassment that she caused the Federation and the Nigerian contingent to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on account of the unauthorized post that she made on social media X (Formerly Twitter) about the
bicycle that she used for the Cycling track event at the Olympics.
10. Every Sports Federation should design comprehensive, sport-specific CODES OF
CONDUCT for their athletes representing Nigeria at international events. These
should be enforced to the letter without fear or favour.
11. The Minister of Sports Development, even with the best intentions of defending
and protecting the image and integrity of the country, should restrain from
addressing the media on issues affecting individual athletes and leave that to the
Sports Federations. Athletes must be held accountable by Sports Federations
while the Federations must be held accountable by the Minister of Sports
Development.
12. Every Sport Federation should aspire to set up an Anti-Doping Commission in
order to improve doping control amongst their athletes. They should follow the
good example of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria.
13. The Minister of Sports Development should follow through to ensure Presidential assent to the Nigeria Anti-Doping Organization (NADO) whose enabling Bill has been passed by the two houses of the National Assembly.
14. Nigerian athletes should take greater responsibility for their own personal welfare by avoiding intake of foods, drinks and drugs that might result in failed tests, disqualifications and suspensions from their sport.
15. The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) should review its policy of not having written agreements with the technical officials that it engages for competitions.
This is against best global practices as even conditional or temporary
employments can be covered by written agreements. The Federation should write
Letters of Commendation and present Plaques of Honour to all the coaches and
players that made Nigeria proud as the first African women’s basketball team to
reach the quarterfinals of the Olympic Games in Paris.
16. The Ministry of Sports Development should write a Letter of Commendation
and present a Plaque of Honour to Engr. Giandiomanico Masari, President of
Nigeria Cycling Federation for his immense contributions to Nigeria’s debut
appearance in the Olympic Cycling events at Paris 2024 Games.
17. Central to the problems of Nigerian sports is INADEQUATE FUNDING and
untimely release of funds by government for preparation and participation at
major international sports events.
The Ministry of Sports Development should
adopt a more PRIVATE-SECTOR-LED CONCEPT proposed by the
Investigative Committee to close the huge funding gap in Nigerian sports.
18. The funds subsequently raised should be channeled toward resuscitating of
National Sports Zonal Offices for grassroots sports development; infrastructure development, upgrade and maintenance; training of technical and administrative personnel; early preparation and support for elite athletes; incentives and rewards for outstanding athletes, etcetera.
19. Full details of Respondents Testimonies, the Committee’s Deductions and how we arrived at our Recommendations are contained in the full report submitted to the Honourable
Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh.
20. Thank you.
SIGNED: DR. MUMINI ALAO, PhD, ACirab (UK)
