President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Habu Gumel, has urged presidents of sports federations to make athletes the centre of their administration, stressing that their welfare, development and preparation must remain the priority of Nigerian sports.
Gumel made the call on Monday in Abuja, at a good governance seminar for presidents of sports federations in Nigeria, where he urged federation leaders to strengthen their administrative structures and ensure athletes receive the support needed to compete successfully at international level.
“Our athletes are key and they are number one,” Gumel said, urging sports federation presidents to look after their athletes, groom them and provide adequate training ahead of major international competitions.
He said Nigeria has a busy international sporting calendar ahead, making proper planning and effective administration essential to the development of athletes and the country’s performance on the global stage.
Gumel identified the Youth Olympic Games, African Youth Games, African School Games, beach games and African Games, among the major competitions requiring adequate preparation by sports federations.
He also drew attention to preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, urging federations to begin their qualification campaigns and athlete development programmes early.
According to him, sports federations must focus on identifying talented athletes, preparing them adequately and providing the necessary support to enable them qualify and compete at major international events.
He further called on the federation leaders to work closely with the NOC and the National Sports Commission (NSC) in developing programmes that would improve athletes’ preparation and welfare.
Gumel stressed that participation and qualification in major competitions remain important steps in giving Nigerian athletes opportunities to compete and represent the country on the international stage.
He said the NOC and NSC were committed to working together to support national federations and athletes as Nigeria prepares for a series of major international sporting engagements.
The seminar brought together presidents and senior officials of sports federations for discussions on good governance, leadership, financial management, institutional development, competition administration and international best practices.
The programme, organised under the Olympic Solidarity framework, was designed to strengthen the institutional capacity of Nigeria’s sports federations and improve the administration of sports in the country.
