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The general director of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Chief Bukola Olopade, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s preparation and commitment to deepen collaboration with the African Athletics Confederation (CAA) to advance the development of athletics throughout the continent.
Olopade made this statement on Monday at the opening ceremony of the CAA Congress, held at the Conference Hotel in Abeokuta, the host city of the 3rd Athletics Championship CAA U-18/U-20.
The Congress had assistance to the main stakeholders of athletics, including the president of the African Athletics Confederation, Hamad Kalkaba Malboum; President of the Nigeria Athletics Federation (AFN), Chief Tonobok Okowa; Vice Presidents of Caa Bruno Konga, Desarutu Tulu, Jackson Kipron Tuwei, Amara Khaled and Zakhele Dlamini; President of the Asian Athletics Association, General Dahlan Jumaan Al-Hamad; as well as heads of participating nations delegations.
In his opening comments, Olopade, a renowned defender of athletics and organizer of the Lagos City Marathon, the largest road race in Africa, said that the NSC has launched a proactive structure to boost the development of athletics in Nigeria and beyond.
“Even before being appointed DG of the National Sports Commission, he had been deeply involved in athletics, having managed the Lagos City Marathon. That highlights my passion for sport,” Olopade said.
He stressed the dedication of the state of Ogun and Nigeria to the advancement of athletics, revealing that the state governor, his excellence, Prince Dapo Abiodun, together with former Nigerian president, chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and other dignitaries and commercial leaders, would meet with the leadership of the CAA.
Olopade, who also presides over the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the championship, added that the Nigerian government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is completely invested in the creation of platforms so that the young Africans thrive in sports.
In his welcome speech, the president of the AFN and the president of Region II of CAA, Chief Tonobok Okowa, praised the preparation of the state of Ogun and Nigeria to organize a successful and shocking competence.
“In fact, it is an honor to welcome athletes, officials and media representatives to this championship,” Okowa said. “This meeting allows us to reflect on our trip and look to the future with hope and optimism.”
He added that the event gives young African athletes the opportunity to show their talents given by God, expressing their confidence that new talents will be discovered and nurtured for future elite competitions, such as African championships, world athletics championships, Commonwealth games and Olympic Games.
Okowa also requested policies to address the key challenges facing young athletes throughout the continent, including limited access to training facilities, medications, adequate nutrition and doping education.
“As member federations, our shared objective is to raise athletics in each dimension. I think this Congress will further solidify our collective vision for the growth of athletics in Africa,” he concluded.
He finished his comments with a warm Yoruba greeting: “Ekabo”, which means “welcome.”
It is expected that more than 700 athletes compete in the championship scheduled for July 16 to 20, 2025.
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