Nigeria’s minister of Sports, Senator John Owan Eno has intervened in the omission of Nigeria medal prospect, Favour Ofili in the100 metres event at the ongoing Paris Olympics.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that Ofili raised an alarm about her omission in the 100 metres dash after preparing for it for four years.
Few hours after the story broke, the Sports Minister intervened on her case, vowing to get to the root of the matter.
Consequently, Minister Eno reached out to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) to address her exclusion from the race.
The minister made this known via his official X handle on Wednesday.
He wrote: “On July 28, 2024, as Minister of Sports Development, I visited and addressed Team Nigeria athletes at the Games Village in Paris. It was a no-holds-barred session, followed by my customary personal interaction with the athletes, allowing them to express their concerns directly to me, a tradition I have maintained as Minister. I have always encouraged athletes to reach out to me directly with any issues.
“Reflecting on past events, when Favour Ofili faced issues at the African Championships in Douala, I personally reached out to understand her side of the story. This time is no different. Favour Ofili contacted me directly, expressing her concerns regarding her races. I immediately called Professor Ken Anugweje, the head of the Ministerial Podium Performance Committee, to ensure that Ofili’s issues were addressed promptly. He informed me shortly afterward that he had contacted Chief Solomon Ogba, the 1st Vice President of the NOC, and that the matter was being handled.
“Upon learning of Ofili’s distress this morning, I reached out to the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN). The Technical Director, Samuel Onikeku, confirmed that Favour Ofili was registered for the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay. The Secretary General of AFN also affirmed that the final list sent to the NOC, the only body recognized by the International Olympic Committee for such submissions, included Ofili for the 100m. I am in contact with the President of the NOC and await his explanation.
“Favour Ofili has consistently proven her excellence, being among the top eight at the World Championships, a Commonwealth Games silver medalist, an African Games champion, a former World U20 champion, and an African Senior Athletics Championships champion in the 200m.
“As Minister of Sports, I will not tolerate such recklessness. This situation is highly inexcusable, and there will be thorough investigations and sanctions to address this gross negligence. All parties must take their responsibilities seriously. The current operations of the Federal Ministry of Sports Development do not permit incompetence at any level.
“As an immediate measure, the Athletic Federation of Nigeria and the Nigeria Olympic Committee must ensure that Favour Ofili is not deprived of the opportunity to compete in the races for which she is qualified and registered to represent Nigeria at the Paris Olympics. She is committed to showcasing her talent and dedication”
Athletics event at the Paris Olympics will begin tomorrow Thursday, August 1st.