Joel Ajayi
The President of the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC), Engr. Habu Gumel, has charged all national sports federations to intensify preparations and target podium finishes at upcoming major international competitions, including the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal, the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Engr. Gumel gave the charge on Monday in Abuja at the 2025 NOC/CGN Annual General Meeting (AGM), where stakeholders reviewed Nigeria’s sporting activities for the year and outlined strategies for future success.
He stressed that Nigerian athletes must be adequately prepared to compete favourably with the world’s best, noting that consistent planning, discipline, technical development, and strict adherence to international standards remain critical to achieving medal-winning performances.
The NOC President commended the National Sports Commission (NSC) for its renewed commitment to sports development, describing its support and positive projections as key factors in repositioning Nigerian sports for greater success at both national and international levels.
Gumel explained that the AGM, a statutory obligation of the Olympic and Commonwealth family, was convened to review activities for the 2024 year and present the audited financial statements to delegates, in line with the NOC Constitution. He noted that despite a crowded sporting calendar, the Executive Committee has continued to uphold the tradition of regular physical meetings to strengthen unity within the sporting family.
He welcomed the Chairman of the NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and the Director General, Mr. Bukola Olopade, appreciating the close collaboration between the NSC and the NOC in achieving shared objectives. He also extended a warm welcome to newly elected presidents of national sports federations, international federation representatives, the ANOCA delegation, and invited guest speakers.
Looking ahead, Engr. Gumel said the focus of the Olympic and Commonwealth Movement remains the successful participation in the quadrennial Games, urging federations to strategically refocus as Nigeria approaches the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games and the qualification phase for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
He further charged national federations to ensure full compliance with the rules and regulations of their respective International Federations, including the whereabouts and testing requirements of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), describing this as non-negotiable in the quest for podium performances.
According to him, the Youth Olympic Games, scheduled for October 31 to November 13, 2026 in Senegal, and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, holding from July 23 to August 2, 2026, present early opportunities to test Nigeria’s preparedness ahead of the LA 2028 Olympics.
Gumel expressed optimism that stronger collaboration among the NSC, NOC, and national federations would place Nigeria in a better position to deliver strong and competitive performances at the forthcoming Games.
He concluded by wishing delegates fruitful deliberations at the AGM and expressing confidence that sustained cooperation among stakeholders would lead to improved performances and greater global recognition for Nigerian sports in the years ahead.
