Other Sports
Sports Journalist Guns for Nigerian Athletics Body’s Top Post
A former sports editor of The Guardian Newspaper Limited and later that of Next on Sunday, Olukayode Thomas, has thrown his hat into the ring to contest for the presidency of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria.
He becomes the second candidate for the position, coming out four days after that of former Olympics gold medallist, Enefiok Udo-Obong
In a press release made available to Sports Village Square, Olukayode Thomas, a seasoned sports journalist with bias for athletics reporting promised to transform the federation into a success story like the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.
According to the presidential aspirant who was also a member of the recently dissolved executive committee of the AFN as well as the organizing committee for the Lagos Marathon, the Lagos road race “is on record as the only marathon that shot from inception into one of the global elite marathons in less than two years.”
He is the Director, Communications and Media of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon. He remarked that his experience as an athletics journalist and four years as an athletic administrator have given him great insight into the challenges of athletics in Nigeria.
He is of the opinion that he will offer solution to the challenges if he gets the mandate to lead the on June 13.
“It is easy to stand on the fence to pontificate on the problems and challenges of athletics; with over two decades’ experience as an athletics reporter and serving a term on the board, I have better insight.
“Most do not know the problems and the way out while many of those campaigning are election merchants. Once they come on board, that is the end.
“You will never see them providing meaningful contributions or attending meetings unless there is a major championship.
“Apart from the few months I took off to work as a volunteer for All Progressives Congress (APC) between 2014 and 2015, I was always around to understudy the administration and management of athletics which is why I have a well of knowledge and understanding about its challenges and the solutions’’ said Thomas.
He also said working with Team Nilayo on the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon has given him the experience in marketing, branding, sponsorship and communications to enable him turn AFN into one of the top twenty brands in Nigeria within two years and top ten before the end of his four-year tenure.
“When we started the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon in September 2015, it was an unknown brand. Bukola Olopade, Head of Team Nilayo, Yussuf Alli and I went around all the nook and crannies of Lagos looking for support and sponsorship.
“Lagos State Government and Access Bank keyed into the idea and in less than two years, an unknown product is now a global brand that the sponsors and everybody associated with the brand is proud of.
“It is now the biggest one day event in Africa, with the potential to be the biggest in the world soon.’’
Thomas who is also a former head of Investigation Desk at Vintage Press, publishers of The Nation Newspapers, promised to use the practical experience acquired while working with Team Nilayo on the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon to turn AFN around within two years.
The stage is set for the 3rd National Para Games, Nigeria’s largest and most prestigious para sports event, scheduled to hold from March 26 to April 3, 2026, in Abuja.
For nine days, the nation’s capital will host more than 3,000 athletes representing all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, competing across 15 different sports in what promises to be a vibrant celebration of resilience, excellence and inclusion. Organisers say champions will emerge, records will tumble, and new chapters will be written in Nigeria’s para sports history.
The Games are being organised by the National Sports Commission, which describes the event as a critical platform for talent discovery, national unity and the advancement of para sports development across the country.
Since its inception, the National Para Games has evolved into a cornerstone of Nigeria’s sporting calendar, spotlighting the remarkable abilities of athletes living with disabilities while reinforcing the country’s commitment to inclusive participation in sports.
Officials say the 2026 edition will surpass previous outings in scale, organisation and competitive intensity. With participation confirmed from every state of the federation and the FCT, the Games are expected to reveal the depth of talent spread nationwide and provide a pathway for standout performers to progress to continental and global competitions.
In a significant boost to preparations, the National Youth Service Corps has partnered with the Commission by releasing its Orientation Camp in Kubwa, Abuja, to serve as the official Games Village. The facility will accommodate athletes and officials throughout the competition, offering a secure and community-focused environment designed to foster camaraderie and peak performance.
The collaboration reflects a broader inter-agency commitment to empowering young Nigerians and promoting social integration through sport. It also underscores growing national recognition of para athletes as integral contributors to Nigeria’s sporting success.
With anticipation building and logistics nearing completion, Abuja is poised to welcome thousands of competitors and supporters for what promises to be a defining celebration of courage, competition and collective pride.
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By Keresifon Essien
Akwa Ibom State will parade a strong contingent of about 280 athletes and 44 officials at the 2026 Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF), scheduled to hold in Benin City, Edo State, from February 20 to 28.
The State Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with the Curator of Keresy Sports Museum (KSM), Keresifon Essien, noting that Team Akwa Ibom will compete in 16 sporting events at the regional multi-sports fiesta.
According to Bassey, the sports in which the state will feature include football, basketball, volleyball, handball, table tennis, badminton, lawn tennis, boxing, wrestling, judo, karate, taekwondo, weightlifting, swimming and chess.
To ensure optimal preparation, the state government has constituted a five-man State Liaison Committee to oversee arrangements for the festival. The committee is chaired by the Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey.
Other members of the committee are Coach Catherine Ewa Ekuta, Head of Technical; Guinness World Record holder George Essien; Edidiong Stephen, a member; and Mfon Bassey, who serves as Secretary.
Bassey explained that the committee has been mandated to fine-tune all preparations for the festival, beginning with the state trials scheduled for this weekend, and to ensure that the contingent arrives in Benin City fully prepared and ready to project Akwa Ibom State positively at the Niger Delta Sports Festival.
He expressed confidence that with proper planning and early preparations, Team Akwa Ibom will make a strong impression when the festival proper begins.
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Team Nigeria on Monday afternoon departed the country for Cairo, Egypt, where they will compete in the 2025 World Karate Championship scheduled for November 27–30.
The nation will be represented by five outstanding athletes who have demonstrated exceptional discipline, consistency, and competitive grit in their buildup to the global event. The team is made up of:
- Loveth Ngozi Okoro – Kumite -50kg
- Godfirst Orie Ukoha-Sampson – Kumite -55kg
- Constance Tamunodiepreye Abode – Kumite -61kg
- Ujunwa Caroline Nwankwo – Kumite +68kg
- Oluwaseun Olorunbe – Male Kata
The athletes, who have undergone intense preparations, will be led by coach Efezino Akpotu, while Olusegun Abode serves as the leader of delegation.
Four members of the squad—Ngozi, Godfirst, Constance, and Ujunwa—are already well-known names on the domestic circuit. They are regular contenders at the Zainab Saleh International Female Open Karate Championship, an annual tournament founded by Hajiya Zainab Saleh, a Board Member of the Karate Federation of Nigeria (KFN). The championship has been widely recognised for empowering and developing female karatekas across the country.
Ahead of the team’s participation, the Board of the KFN expressed confidence in the athletes’ ability to deliver strong performances on the world stage.
However, it also appealed to the National Sports Commission (NSC) for urgent financial support to offset debts incurred in ensuring Nigeria’s participation in the championship.
According to the federation, the World Karate Championship falls under the mandate of the NSC, and timely intervention is necessary to stabilise the federation’s operations after securing the team’s trip to Cairo.
Team Nigeria will now focus on making a strong impact as they join the world’s best karatekas in Egypt later this week.
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