AFN TD, Okon slams Government’s ‘lack of funds’ excuse, says Athletics deserves strategic investment

Technical Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Gabriel Okon, has sharply criticized the persistent excuse of ‘lack of funds’ often echoed by government officials, describing it as a retrogressive mantra that continues to stifle the growth of athletics in Nigeria.

Fresh from the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Okon expressed frustration over the country’s failure to capitalize on its rich pool of athletic talent, citing the achievements of global stars like Tobi Amusan, Nigeria’s 100m hurdles World Champion who holds a record time of 12.12 seconds, as proof of the nation’s potential.

‘As of today, Tobi Amusan holds a record time of 12.12s. By propagating Amusan’s achievement, Nigeria can encourage others to take up sports, but this endeavor requires substantial funding,’ Okon told the AFN Media.

He pointed to countries like South Africa and Jamaica as examples of how targeted investments in athletics can yield both sporting and economic dividends.

‘Examples from South Africa, Jamaica, and other nations demonstrate how world class athletes can drive sports development through targeted investments,’ he added.

Okon was unequivocal in his condemnation of the government’s failure to prioritize sports funding, arguing that the ad-hoc, budget-dependent approach has left Nigerian athletes under-supported and under-prepared.

‘We don’t just attend Championships, we also learn from how others are achieving their podium finish,’ he said, emphasizing that consistent investment over multiple seasons is the key to success at global events.

He further argued that sports funding should be drawn from consolidated investment funds, not yearly budget allocations or personal donations.

‘Athletes require training grants, competitions, trainers, medical care, equipment, and welfare, none of which should be compromised due to lack of funds,’ Okon stressed.

‘It’s unfortunate that while other countries like Turkey, Qatar, Spain, and Saudi Arabia are luring athletes with substantial funding, sometimes even getting them to change their names, Nigeria is still stuck in a cycle of excuses,’ Okon lamented.

His remarks paint a sobering picture of a federation that, despite its potential, continues to self-indict through its dependence on government largesse and lack of strategic foresight.

Okon tactically absolved the federation of blame forgetting that past boards had shown more initiative like the tenure of Engr. Oluyomi Adeyemi-Wilson, a former external affairs executive at ExxonMobil, who secured a lucrative kitting deal with global sportswear brand Fila.

Part of the sponsorship fee was used to pay athletes’ training grants which is in sharp contrast to the ‘beggarly attitude’ of today’s managers who rely entirely on federal government handouts to meet even the federation’s most basic needs.