‘I’m experienced and have the pedigree to lead AFN to better administration and performance’: Defiant Nesiama joins race for AFN Presidency
Two-time technical sub-committee head of Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama has joined the race for the AFN Presidency despite the ludicrous decision of the Federation’s Congress to bar him from returning to the board of the Federation after serving for three terms.
Like many athletics stakeholders, Nesiama believes the insertion of that article into the AFN Constitution in an illegal Congress held in May 2023 which was re-affirmed by the equally illegal Congress in Bayelsa early this month cannot stand the test of commonsense.
Despite that, the Navy Commodore says the AFN needs a change and he can breathe that breath of fresh air into the crisis-ridden Federation where Sponsors money are spent without accountability and where there is flagrant violations of the Constitution of the Federation.
‘I’m experienced and have the pedigree to lead the Federation to better administration and performance.
‘I have the audacity to depart from lack-lustre management of athletics to making a difference borne out of experience, discipline, accountability and long-standing pedigree in the sport,’ said Nesiama, an International technical official and a World Athletics certified lecturer.
Nesiama who was recently named as a referee for the 3rd Africa U18/U20 combined championships slated for Oran, Algeria later this year says becoming President AFN ‘would be a good opportunity to implement what has been my strategic focus all along that led me to develop a road map towards athletics podium performance in 2012 tagged: AFN Project Rio 2016.
‘It contained the developmental and the elite performance pathways and the project is designed to be athletes-centred and Coaches-led.’
Nesiama who was did the Long, Triple and High jumps in his school days obtained distinction grade in Sports Management at the National Institute for Sports in 2000 and another distinction grades in World Athletics Bronze and Silver Levels Technical Officiating Courses in 2012 and 2017 respectively at the AADC Kenya, thus qualifying into the Confederation of African Athletics, CAA, Referees Panel to officiate at major international competitions.
He also obtained distinction grade in the examination to qualify for IAAF (now World Athletics) License for Athletes Representative (Management) in 2014, becoming the first and only Nigerian to pass at first attempt till date.
Nesiama equally obtained distinction grade to qualify as IAAF Lecturer for Technical Officials at the ADC Kenya and has been a member of the CAA Technical and Competitions Commission since 2012.
He was named as the Competition Director for the First African Youth Athletics Championships which Nigeria won in 2013, and has appointed as World Athletics Referee at several International Competitions.
