Paris Olympics: Committee recommends N8m compensation for Ofili, indicts AFN officials

Favour Ofili

A ministerial committee has recommended N8 million compensation for sprinter Favour Ofili, who was shockingly omitted from the registration list for the 100 metres event of the 2024 Olympics despite being fully qualified.The panel indicted the Technical Director, Mr. Samuel Onikeku, who dismissed reports of Ofili’s omission as mere “rumour”. The committee asserted: “Our committee is strongly of the view that the AFN technical director made poor judgment by not reporting such an important ‘hint’ or ‘rumor’ about his own athlete’s omission from an Olympic Games event, even if only to cross-check its veracity or otherwise”.The panel also uncovered serious administrative failings that contributed to Team Nigeria’s poor showing at the Paris 2024 Olympics.Nigeria registered 88 athletes in 12 sports at the Paris Olympics, which held from 26 July to 11 August, this year, but did not win any medal, marking the nation’s eighth Olympic appearance without any podium finishes and exposing a series of organisational failures.The omission of qualified athletes, including Ofili, added to the frustration and embarrassment surrounding the country’s performance.The committee, headed by renowned sports journalist, Dr Mumini Alao, was set up Senator John Enoh while he was Minister of Sports Development.The panel recommended disciplinary action against key officials in the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), including its Secretary General, Mrs. Rita Mosindi, and Onikeku.According to the committee’s findings, “the Secretary General of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Rita Mosindi, should be penalised by the appropriate authority for negligence in her duties. She was unable to provide convincing evidence to our committee to support her claim that she submitted important documents relating to the registration of athlete Favour Ofili in the 100 meters to the Ministry of Sports Development and the Nigeria Olympic Committee”.The investigative committee recommended the creation of a ‘Code of Governance Document’, to establish a clear protocol for interactions among officials of these organisations. The document will outline how the ministry, NOC, and sports federations should coordinate in managing athlete registrations and other overlapping responsibilities at major international events, including the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and African Games.After the disappointment of missing the Tokyo Olympics due to administrative mishaps, Ofili had to voice her frustration after learning of her exclusion from the 100 meters in Paris.“It is with great regret that I have just been told I will not be competing in the 100 meters at this Olympic Games. I qualified, but those with the AFN and NOC failed to enter me. I have worked for four years to earn this opportunity. For what?” she wrote on Instagram just before the sprint event began at the Olympic Games.The 21-year-old athlete has had a stellar season, excelling in collegiate competitions and winning numerous races, including the National trials in Benin City, Edo State, in the lead-up to the Olympics.A rising star since she competed in the 2019 World Championships at age 16, Ofili’s swift ascent to the senior ranks had positioned her as one of Nigeria’s best prospects for the Games.

• Conflicting evidences showed that the Nigerian athlete, Favour Ofili’s omission from the women’s 100 metres event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is traceable to any one of the following organisations: 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.
• 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 PENALISED by the appropriate authority.
• 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 metres 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.
• The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) by vicarious implication should pay the athlete, Favour Ofili, a symbolic compensation of N8 million only (about $5,000) for the disappointment and depression that she suffered on account of her omission from the women’s 100 metres event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
• 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.
• The athlete, Favour Ofili, should take an introspective look at her general ATTITUDE to improve her relationships with co-athletes and officials.
• 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 organisations.
• 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.
• 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 unauthorised post that she made on social media, X (formerly Twitter) about the bicycle that she used for the Cycling track event at the Olympics.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• The Minister of Sports Development should follow through to ensure presidential accent to the Nigeria Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO) whose enabling Bill has been passed by the two houses of the National Assembly.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.