Dr. Anthony Onohakpor Elected New NAATO President
In a landmark election held on Saturday in Abuja, Dr. Anthony Onohakpor from Delta state emerged as the new President of the Nigeria Association of Athletics Technical Officials (NATO), securing 17 votes to defeat his sole opponent, Funmi Otegbeye of the University of Lagos, who polled six votes.
This victory marks a new chapter for NATO, the body responsible for regulating and certifying athletics technical officials across Nigeria.
Dr. Onohakpor succeeds Professor Lucas Ogunjimi, a distinguished academic from the University of Calabar’s Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education.
Professor Ogunjimi is widely recognized as the first Nigerian to obtain the International Technical Official (ITO) License from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), now known as World Athletics.
He also holds a Level 2 Anthropometrics License from the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) and serves as a lecturer for the World Athletics Technical Official Education and Certification System (TOECS).
The election also saw the emergence of other key officials who will serve alongside Dr. Onohakpor in steering the affairs of NATO.
Caroline Oderinde was elected Welfare Officer with 23 votes, while Olorunfemi Raphael clinched the position of Publicity Secretary with the same number of votes.
Abejide Nicholas was elected Treasurer with 21 votes, and Sola Ogundele became Financial Secretary with 23 votes.
Segun Omodunni was elected Assistant Secretary, and Yakubu Gama James secured the position of Secretary General, both with 23 votes.
Jimmy Salau Mohammed was elected Vice President with 23 votes. For the role of Arena Marshall, Lucky Ehijiator received 19 votes, defeating Abiodun Adeyemi who polled four votes.
The newly elected executive is tasked with providing education and certification for athletics officials, including referees, judges, and timekeepers.
They will also be responsible for deploying qualified officials to national and regional track and field competitions, ensuring that all events adhere to international standards as set by World Athletics.
Furthermore, the executive will work closely with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to promote both grassroots and elite level athletics development across the country.
