AFN Issues Fresh Warning Over Foreign Scholarship Agreements
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has warned Nigerian athletes and their families to exercise caution before signing agreements with agents, agencies, schools and other third parties, saying it will raise concerns over arrangements it considers detrimental to athletes or the interests of Nigeria.
AFN President, Chief Tonobok Okowa, said the welfare of athletes remains a key responsibility of the Federation and that the AFN is monitoring agreements involving Nigerian athletes.
‘The welfare of athletes remains a key component of the AFN’s responsibilities. It is necessary to protect young athletes from arrangements that could negatively affect their education, careers or national representation,’ Okowa said in a press statement.
The AFN president clarified that the Federation has not entered into any agreement with agents or agencies to provide scholarships to Nigerian athletes.
He urged athletes and their families to seek proper advice before signing agreements, particularly those involving foreign institutions, agents and other third parties.
Okowa also stressed that minors should not enter into agreements without the knowledge and consent of their parents or legal guardians.
The Federation disclosed that it had advised an athlete to terminate an agreement involving an agent and a school after determining that the arrangement was not in the athlete’s best interest and could be inimical to Nigeria’s interests.
‘In a particular case, I directed the AFN Second Vice President, Akuchukwu Aghazu, who is a lawyer, to examine the circumstances surrounding an athlete’s agreement,’ Okowa said.
The AFN’s position raises questions about the extent of its authority over private agreements entered into by athletes.
While the Federation has responsibilities concerning athletes representing Nigeria and can provide guidance or take action within its own jurisdiction, it is not immediately clear that it has the legal power to unilaterally cancel or terminate a private contract between an athlete and an agent, agency, school or other third party.
The extent of any such authority would depend on the terms of the agreement, applicable law and the rights of the parties involved, as well as any relevant rules governing the institution or competition.
The AFN also disclosed that it is not prepared to work with Auburn University in the United States for as long as Ken Harnden, who was named the university’s track and field head coach following the departure of Leroy Burrell to Texas A&M University, remains at the institution.
‘AFN’s position is based on concerns that the coach discourages Nigerian athletes from representing the country,’ Okowa said.
The Federation’s warning comes amid growing interest among Nigerian athletes in foreign scholarships, representation agreements and other opportunities that can provide access to education, training and elite competition.
There have also been reports that World Wide Scholarships (WWS) provided the electronic timing equipment used at the Nigerian Championships free of charge, with the equipment reportedly brought into Nigeria from South Africa. Sportsnow could not independently verify the claim at the time of publication.
Okowa said foreign scholarships and training opportunities could provide valuable platforms for athletes to combine education with elite-level development, but stressed that such arrangements should not undermine their careers, welfare or responsibility to represent Nigeria.
The AFN president urged athletes and their families to obtain appropriate advice before signing agreements and said the Federation would continue to make its position known where it believes an arrangement could adversely affect Nigerian athletes or the country’s interests.
