Criticism Mounts Over Ilo’s Appointment as Nigeria Anti-Doping CEO
Tinubu Urged to Review Appointment
The Federal Government is set to inaugurate the board of Nigeria’s anti-doping agency on Thursday at the office of the Secretary to the Government, Senator George Akume, but the appointment of broadcast journalist Mainasara Ilo as Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer has sparked widespread criticism among sports stakeholders.
Ilo, who twice failed to deliver Nigeria’s bids to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2031 African Games, has now been handed the reins of an agency regarded as central to safeguarding the integrity of Nigerian sport.
Observers argue that the role demands deep technical expertise and extensive experience in anti-doping matters, yet Ilo’s background appears to fall short of the statutory requirement of at least 15 years in the field.
Efforts by his supporters to highlight his two terms on the anti-doping committee have not convinced critics, who insist that committee membership does not equate to practical expertise.
‘He has never been a hands-on anti-doping practitioner,’ one stakeholder noted, questioning how such a candidate could be chosen ahead of seasoned professionals with global recognition.
Names such as Fadekemi, the immediate past head of the anti-doping body at the Ministry of Sports, Professor Ken Anugweje, pharmacist Femi Ayorinde, Dr Akin Amao, former head of the Sports Science Department, and Dr Sam Ogbondeminu, who led the Medical and Anti-Doping Unit at the African Games, have all been cited as far more qualified candidates.
These individuals are well known to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Athletics Integrity Unit, with decades of practical experience and international networks that Nigeria could leverage.
Critics argue that Ilo’s only claim to relevance in the sector is his Bio-Chemistry degree he got in 1987, a qualification that does not solely meet the demands of leading a body tasked with enforcing complex anti-doping rules and practices.
The appointment, they say, risks undermining Nigeria’s credibility in global sports governance and could jeopardize compliance with international standards.
Stakeholders are now calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has consistently emphasized excellence in appointments, to revisit the decision and ensure that the leadership of such a sensitive agency is entrusted to a figure with proven competence, technical depth, and international standing.
The inauguration may go ahead as planned, but the controversy surrounding Ilo’s appointment underscores a broader concern: whether Nigeria is prioritizing political convenience over professional integrity in a sector where credibility is non-negotiable.
