- Nigerian athlete Favour Ofili has been awarded $5,000 for emotional distress after the AFN failed to register her for the Olympics
- An investigative committee found negligence by AFN officials, recommending sanctions and highlighting the need for reforms within Nigeria’s sports administration
Nigeria’s sprint star, Favour Ofili, has been granted $5,000 in compensation for the emotional distress and disappointment caused by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria’s (AFN) failure to register her for the 100 meters event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This decision was detailed in a report by an Investigative Committee established by the immediate past Minister of Sports, Senator John Enoh.
The report, approved for publication by Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), was submitted to Senator Enoh on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. The report’s release occurred in the presence of the former ministry’s permanent secretary, Mrs. Atinuke Watti. Although Senator Enoh had initially planned to publicly release the report on Friday, October 25, 2024, the publication was postponed due to his reassignment to another ministry by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Upon taking office the previous week, Dr. Shehu Dikko authorized the report’s release following a request from the Committee Chairman, Dr. Mumini Alao.
Negligence by AFN Officials
The Investigative Committee found that Mrs. Rita Mosindi, Secretary General of the AFN, failed to communicate Favour Ofili’s event status to both the now-defunct Sports Ministry and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC). This oversight prevented Ofili from participating in the 100 meters race, a core event for the nation’s athletics team. Consequently, the committee recommended that Mosindi face appropriate sanctions for her negligence.
Additionally, the report criticized AFN Technical Director, Mr. Samuel Onikeku, for his poor judgment in not acting on information regarding Ofili’s non-registration. The committee called for sanctions against Onikeku, emphasizing that his inaction further compounded the issue.
Compensation and Recommendations
In light of these findings, the committee recommended that the AFN compensate Favour Ofili with a symbolic sum of N8 million Naira (approximately $5,000) to address the emotional and professional setbacks she endured due to her omission from the Olympic event. The compensation is intended to acknowledge the distress caused by the federation’s administrative failures.
The committee also advised Ofili to reflect on her attitude and improve her relationships with fellow athletes and officials, aiming to foster a more cooperative and supportive environment within Nigerian athletics.
Additional Sanctions
The report did not stop at Ofili’s case. It also addressed other instances of misconduct within Nigerian sports. Ese Ukpeseraye, another athlete, was instructed to formally apologise to the Nigeria Cycling Federation for causing embarrassment through an unauthorized post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) about the bicycle she used for a cycling track event.
Call for Reforms
The Investigative Committee’s findings underscore the need for systemic reforms within the AFN to prevent similar issues in the future. The committee aims to restore trust and integrity in Nigeria’s athletics administration by holding officials accountable and ensuring transparent and efficient communication channels.
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