Teamwork, policies, environment, divine backing will help Nigeria athletics – AFN President

The President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Tonobok Okowa has listed the factors that can help athletics flourish as the world glides into 2025.

Okowa made insights into the sporting progress made in 2024 and the challenges faced, along with plans for the year ahead.

“We thank the Almighty God that we ended the year well. We had many grace, blessings and sweet stories during the year. We have a new National Sports Commission (NSC), with seasoned and experienced hands to stir its ship.

The AFN President said it was “a great achievement” that young, hardworking and dedicated youth served the sporting firmament and the country well. However, he noted that 2024 also came with challenges, particularly the inability of Team Nigeria Athletics to mount the podium in Paris during the Olympic Games.

“Already some of the athletes have reopened their training session and are putting in double shift as well as burning candles from both ends for a more rewarding 2025,” Okowa said.

Looking ahead to 2025, Okowa, who is also the President of the Confederation of African Athletics Zone II said that this year the AFN will celebrate 81 years since it was founded with result oriented and proactive programmes that will produced positive results.

“It is the year of hard work and God’s mercies on all our athletes, officials, supporters and sponsors as well as the country and we must seize the opportunity the Sports Commission provides to help Athletics blossom,” he said.

He added that the AFN, has rolled out a detailed programme for 2025 starting with the registration formalities this month.

Okowa also reflected on the leadership changes that occurred in the sports circuit with the appointment of Mallam Shehu Dikko, as the chairman of the National Sports Commission, and Bukola Olopade, as the Director General, saying this is positive progress.

“We at the AFN strongly believe that these changes will certainly bring glad tidings to athletics and sport in general. The steps taken so far by the new look NSC is an indication that sports in Nigeria is heading toward the right direction,” the former Chairman, Delta State Sports Commission noted.

“We look forward to the new year with great anticipation. We have been preparing to implement several initiatives that we have planned for the year, and we are confident that it will be productive and successful in due time.”