By Jennifer Amarachi
Senator John Enoh, Minister of Sports Development, has described Team Nigeria’s performance in the ongoing 2024 Olympics in Paris as “disappointing.”
On Saturday, the minister announced this in a statement posted on X.com.
According to Enoh, Team Nigeria’s failure to win a medal “is a product of very many other things that need immediate attention.”
He stated that he will not only ensure that similar incidents do not occur again, but that he will also ensure that the most qualified candidates are elected in the upcoming sports federation elections.
He said, “Yesterday, I met with gentlemen of the press at the Nigerian Embassy in Paris for a press briefing following the country’s participation in the 2024 Olympics.
“As we return home, we must do all possible to prevent future disasters like the one in Paris, including reviewing how people are elected to lead our athletic federations.
“The federation elections are quickly approaching, and they will provide the ideal platform for selecting only the most qualified candidates to manage the numerous sports federations.
“Team Nigeria’s poor performance at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where the nation did not win any medals, is a result of many other issues that require immediate attention, and it cannot be addressed solely by our participation in the Olympics.”
Contrary to rumours of underfunding, he said the ministry made sufficient financial and non-financial preparations to get the athletes ready for the Olympics.
“As a ministry, we made every effort to ensure the athletes received proper preparation and financial support. Regrettably, the performance did not result in any podium finishes.
“I am aware that the sports federation elections in Nigeria are more difficult than our national elections. We must establish our standards in order to scrutinize what motivates individuals seeking for federation leadership and ensure that only the finest candidates are chosen.
“This call for reform aims to enhance the leadership and effectiveness of Nigeria’s sports federations, paving the way for improved performance on the global stage”.
