August 11, (THEWILL) – The ongoing Paris 2024 Olympics has once again laid bare the chronic issues plaguing Nigerian sports administration. Despite a hefty N12 billion funding in preparation and participation, Team Nigeria finds itself in the unenviable position of being medal-less while nations of lesser economic and sporting stature celebrate their triumphs on the global stage.
The stark contrast between Nigeria’s performance and that of its African counterparts is nothing short of embarrassing. As of the time of writing this piece, Kenya, occupying the 25th position with 2 gold, 1 silver, and 3 bronze medals, leads the continental charge. It is followed by Algeria (34th place, 2 gold), South Africa (1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze), Tunisia (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze), Uganda (1 gold, 1 silver), Botswana (1 gold), even Zambia with a solitary bronze.
Meanwhile, Nigeria, a nation that prides itself on its sporting heritage, remains conspicuously absent from the medals table. This dismal showing is not merely a reflection of athletic underperformance but a damning indictment of the systemic failures within Nigerian sports governance. The recent debacles involving sprinter Favour Ofili and cyclist Ese Ukpeseraye serve as glaring examples of administrative incompetence that directly impacts our athletes’ ability to compete at the highest level.
In my article last week, I lampooned senior officials of the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) and Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) over Ofili, a promising sprinter, who was inexplicably left off the entry list for the women’s 100m event. This administrative oversight not only robbed her of a chance to compete but also dealt a severe blow to her morale. The emotional toll of such negligence cannot be overstated, with reports of Ofili breaking down in tears after realising she could not participate in her event. This incident is not an isolated case but a symptom of a larger problem of inefficiency and lack of attention to detail within Nigerian sports administration.
Perhaps even more alarming is the case of Ukpeseraye, Nigeria’s first-ever Olympic cyclist. Ukpeseraye found herself in the embarrassing position of having to borrow a bicycle from the German team to compete in her track events. The explanation offered by Sports Minister John Owan Enoh – that the invitation to participate in these events came at the last minute – rings hollow. It is the very job of sports administrators to anticipate and prepare for such contingencies. The failure to provide an athlete with the most basic equipment needed for competition is a damning indictment of the lack of professionalism and foresight within Nigerian sports governance.
These incidents point to a larger pattern of mismanagement and lack of accountability that has not only plagued Nigerian sports for decades but the entire bureaucracy. The recurring nature of these issues suggests that there are no real consequences for those responsible for these failures. Year after year, Olympics after Olympics, we witness the same stories of administrative incompetence, yet the same individuals remain in positions of power within our sports bodies.
The blame for this state of affairs must be laid squarely at the feet of the Nigerian sports administration, from the Ministry of Sports down to the various sports federations. The Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN), in particular, must be held accountable for its failure to adequately equip and prepare its athletes for the Olympic Games. The fact that Ukpeseraye had to rely on the goodwill of a foreign team to compete is a national embarrassment that should prompt immediate action.
Moreover, the Sports Ministry’s role in this fiasco cannot be overlooked. Minister Enoh’s explanation that it would take months to procure the required bicycle for Ukpeseraye’s track events is unacceptable. Olympic preparation is not a last-minute endeavour. It requires years of planning, foresight, and proactive management. The Minister’s statement only serves to highlight the reactive, rather than proactive approach that seems to characterise everything about our government.
The systemic nature of these failures point to deeper issues within Nigerian sports governance. There appears to be a lack of clear lines of responsibility, poor communication between various sports bodies, and an absence of robust systems to handle the complexities of international sporting events. The fact that similar issues continue to recur suggests that there is little to no institutional learning from past mistakes.
It is high time for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigerian sports administration. This should include a thorough audit of all sports federations to identify areas of inefficiency and mismanagement. The implementation of strict accountability measures, with clear consequences for administrative failures, is crucial. We need the development of comprehensive contingency plans for all possible scenarios in international competitions.
Furthermore, there must be investment in modern sports management systems and technologies to streamline administrative processes. Regular training and capacity building for sports administrators to ensure they are up to date with international best practices is essential. The establishment of an independent oversight body to monitor the performance of sports federations and hold them accountable is long overdue. Finally, a transparent and merit-based system for appointing individuals to key positions within sports administration must be put in place.
The continued shabby treatment of our athletes not only hampers their performance but also discourages young talents from pursuing careers in sports. We have already seen the consequences of this mismanagement, with promising athletes wishing to represent Nigeria not getting feedback for their requests to be sponsored to athletes like Annette Echikunwoke choosing to represent other countries due to the administrative failures of Nigerian sports bodies.
Echikunwoke’s story is particularly poignant. After being disqualified from the Tokyo Olympics due to administrative errors by Nigerian officials, she fell into depression. Her subsequent decision to switch allegiance to the United States has now resulted in an Olympic silver medal – a medal that could have been Nigeria’s had our sports administration been more competent and supportive.
The loss of talents like Echikunwoke, Yemisi Ogunleye (who won gold for Germany in the women’s Shot Put) and Salwa Eid Naser (formerly Ebelechukwu Agbapuonwu, now an Olympic silver medallist for Bahrain) should serve as a wake-up call. These athletes, all of Nigerian origin, are achieving Olympic glory for other nations while Nigeria struggles to make its mark on the global stage.
The Nigerian people deserve better from their sports administrators and government at all levels. Our athletes, who dedicate their lives to representing our nation, deserve better support and preparation. The government must take immediate and decisive action to address these systemic failures in our sports governance.
If we continue on this path of mediocrity and mismanagement, we risk not only continued embarrassment on the international stage but also the loss of an entire generation of sporting talent. The consequences of inaction are too severe to ignore. It is time for accountability, reform, and a renewed commitment to excellence in Nigerian sports administration. Anything less is a disservice to our athletes and to the nation as a whole.
