24/06/2025
𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘆: 𝗙𝗮𝘃𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗢𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗶’𝘀 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 – 𝗔 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺
One of Nigeria’s most promising young sprinters, Favour Ofili, is set to officially join the Turkish team from Nigeria as of May 31, 2025, months before the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championship, after being let down for years by Nigerian athletics authorities who’ve botched countless opportunities for her. Ofili’s decision to make the switch represents a deeper examination of the problems that have repeatedly hindered the advancement of athletes in the country and suggests the measures that can be taken to prevent future losses.
A Troubled Journey To World Class Talent
22-year-old Olympian and LSU graduate Favour Ofili has made a name for herself in the sprinting circuit with her prowess in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m events. She’s also recorded the fastest ever time for women in the 150m and maintains personal bests that suggest she’s a medal threat in any international competition. But it hasn’t been a seamless journey for her. Ofili, a rising star in the sport, was one of 14 Nigerian athletes who missed out on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to their failure to conduct mandatory pre-Games drug testing for athletes based in the U.S. Four years later, the AFN and NOC’s failure to do the same at the Paris 2024 Games left her off the country’s entry list for the 100m race, although she’d already qualified for the event. In a post on Instagram, Ofili was frank about her frustration, writing, “I qualified, but those with the AFN and NOC failed to put my name down. I have been working hard for 4 years to get this opportunity. For what?”
Despite her top-10 finish in the 200m, she burst into tears at the end of the race and said, “You feel like your career is done, especially when it’s been in a continuous state of development.” She won her first major championship last year in the 60m at the NCAA indoor meet, a race she would not have been eligible to compete in if she hadn’t switched nationalities, an option she reportedly contemplated prior to her 2024 season. She will be eligible to compete in Tokyo in August.
These experiences, coupled with the nonchalant attitude of the Nigerian sports officials towards them, have reportedly convinced her to officially switch nationalities to Turkey. According to reports, Ofili sent the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of World Athletics a letter notifying them of her decision, citing her “growing frustration” with the authorities. But according to sources, the switch wasn’t driven by a desire to make more money but instead an expression of the level of dissatisfaction she had with the handling of the sport in Nigeria.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗢𝗳 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗻 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀
Ofili’s decision to represent another country reveals a larger problem that has plagued Nigerian sports for years. Here are some of the issues that contributed to her problems:
𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿𝘀: The Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) have routinely failed to meet the minimum requirements for participation in international competitions, including registering athletes and adhering to World Athletics regulations on pre-Games drug testing. As a result, athletes like Ofili lost opportunities to compete at the Olympics and other global events.
𝗟𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: In spite of the series of cases that plagued Nigerian sports, there has been little or no repercussions for the responsible parties, allowing the status quo to continue, as in the case of the AFN and NOC, which have repeatedly proven themselves unprepared for even basic administrative duties.
𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀: Sports Federations in Nigeria are headed by politicians instead of the most qualified professionals, a lack of qualified individuals in leadership positions has cost the nation more than a handful of opportunities, the NOC’s statement on the case of Ofili reiterated that political pressure was a major factor in the botched participation in Paris.
𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: The government has been neglectful in financing and constructing state-of-the-art sports infrastructure, leaving facilities that are often non-functional and many young athletes underdeveloped.
𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀: The Athletics programs that traditionally groomed young athletes into stars are gone, resulting in a weak and unorganized pool of athletes who are often left on their own.
The Causes, which Nigeria has seen the effects of for decades, caused the country’s dismal showing at the Paris 2024 Games, in which Nigeria did not medal for the first time in over a decade.
How to Save Nigeria’s Floundering Sports Industry
If Nigerian sports is to recover from its recent decline, these reasons need to be addressed by the government, sports federations, and sports stakeholders at the grassroots level. Here are some of the steps that could help save the industry:
𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Perform audits on the sports federations to identify administrative errors and uncover misappropriation of funds. The consequences of such mistakes must be harsh, including the suspension or removal of officials, to create a new paradigm.
𝗗𝗲-𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: The Sports Federations must be autonomous, free from the heavy-handed control of politicians and independent of their patronage. Leadership must be appointed based on their qualifications and experience rather than politics, so that leadership can plan effectively and the nation can have sustainable programs for its athletes.
𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: The government must take responsibility for the athletes’ development, providing support for their well-being, offering training, and building world-class facilities to keep athletes engaged and to compete on the world stage.
𝗥𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀: Provide structured sports competitions and opportunities for young athletes to be scouted and developed at all ages. This would make it easier for young people to be active in sports, even in school and their communities.
𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Strong legislation that protects athletes and gives them the autonomy they deserve. New legislation should include protection for their welfare, provide fair conditions, and fair hearings.
𝗔𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: Improve the knowledge of athletes, coaches, and technical personnel in various sports. This includes improving their knowledge and bringing them up to speed with international standards.
𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻’𝘀 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻: The government must support the National Sports Commission’s (NSC) plans for the transformation of sports in Nigeria. This would include support for the “Reset, Refocus, Relaunch” program, the National Sports Industry Policy (NSIP), and other strategies to rebuild sports as an economic powerhouse.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗧𝗼 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗢𝗳𝗳?
Nigeria is on the brink of losing another star, potentially the latest in a long line of stars that have left the country for good. Her decision to move to Turkey is not just a loss for the country but also an eye-opening experience of the problems that led to the failure to send her to the Olympics and will serve as a sign that the system is broken and is in need of a total overhaul. It will not be easy for the Nigerian Sports Federation to stop the slide and keep its talent. With so many athletes waiting to make the leap to a new country, there needs to be a shift in the way that things are done, starting with the NSC’s plans to turn around the industry, but only if it sticks to its plan. Otherwise, Nigeria will continue to lose its chance to compete in sports.
Join the Conversation: Share, Like, and Comment!
Favour Ofili’s decision to represent Turkey is a wake-up call for Nigerian sports. What are your thoughts on this development? Do you think Nigeria can turn things around to retain its brightest talents, or are we at risk of losing more athletes to other nations? I did love to hear your opinions! Please share this article with your friends and family to spread the word, like this post to show your support for reform, and drop a comment below with your views on how Nigeria can rebuild its sporting future. Let’s start a meaningful discussion together!