Chioma Ajunwa, Nigeria’s first Olympic gold medallist, has voiced strong criticism of the country’s sports administration following another disappointing performance at the Paris Olympics.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday, Ajunwa urged for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s sports sector, highlighting the need for fresh leadership and improved planning.
Ajunwa’s remarks come in the wake of the Nigerian athletes’ lacklustre showing, which saw them missing out on several potential medals.
Ajunwa criticised the current sports administration for its repeated failures and lack of accountability, emphasising the need for individuals with genuine expertise and passion for sports to lead the sector.
“One thing I think the people in the helm of affairs should do is to overhaul the sports department in Nigeria. They should stop recycling the old administrative officers that never know what they are doing. When you put people who know their onions, we would not be speaking in this manner.
“Our problem is that we are using those that never knew what sports is, those that never did sports in their life. When you go to the ministry of sports, before 3pm, they have all gone home.”
The Olympian lamented the persistent issues in Nigerian sports, stating that the same problems continue to plague the sector from one Olympics to the next.
She expressed frustration over the wasted potential of Nigerian athletes, who invest considerable time, energy, and personal resources into their training, and also pointed out the mismanagement of funds on the part of the government.
“It is quite disheartening that every year, Nigeria will be telling this kind of story. If you remember, after the last Olympics before this, it was still the same thing. They keep on telling us, let them go back to the drawing board. The drawing board, we never see and we don’t even know how to draw on the board.
“It is quite unfortunate that we lost the whole chances and the athletes wasted their whole time, energy, and personal resources. It is also quite unfortunate that Nigeria spent so much but that one is not my business because we don’t spend that money when we are supposed to spend it.”
The gold medalist emphasised the importance of planning and preparation, criticising the lack of foresight and strategic investment in the athletes’ development.
Ajunwa also lamented the poor facilities available to Nigerian athletes, particularly the restricted access to stadiums.
“Immediately after the closure of this Olympics, every country will go back and start planning because this is a four-year event, giving the countries the whole time to go back and plan for their athletes to train. But we in Nigeria, we will just go back to our comfort zone and begin to celebrate the money we made there and then begin to invest in our own personal things with that money, instead of planning on how the county will move forward.
“If the minister is giving them good money based on what they have spent since their preparation, maybe it could have motivated them. Somebody who lives in the US, UK or any part of Europe, you know how much the athlete uses in training in the stadium where they train, because even here in Nigeria, Nigeria does not allow athletes to train in the stadium. The stadium is always under lock and key and I don’t know who they built it for.”
Chioma Kalu
Follow us on:
Edo Governor Okpebholo has appointed Arise News’ Suleiman Aledeh as MD of Edo Broadcasting Service,…
The Philippine vice president Duterte has made a public threat to have the president assassinated,…
The Laos government has vowed to deliver justice following an alcohol poisoning incident that tragically…
Chadema party chairman Freeman Mbowe and other Tanzanian leaders have been detained for allegedly violating…
An Israeli airstrike in Beirut has killed four, injured over 20, and flattened an eight-storey…
Trump has nominated Wall Street financier Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary, emphasising his expertise in…
View Comments
CUSTOM AUCTIONING IS CURRENTLY GOING NOW!!! .
ROOFING SHEETS DIFFERENT TYPES AVAILABLE.
IMPORTEDED VEHICLES & DIFFERENT TYPES OF GENERATORS, AUCTION PHONE'S. FOR SALE AT CHEAP AND AFFORDABLE AUCTION PRICE INTERESTED BUYER SHOULD KINDLY CONTACT US ON O8O__6739__9O9O.
BAGS OF RICE AND VEGETABLE OIL FOR SALE IN A CHEAP AND AFFORDABLE PRICE, BUYER SHOULD CONTACT US ON O8O__6739__9O9O.
ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR SALES.
SOME OF THE AVAILABLE VEHICLES AND THEIR AUCTION PRICES ARE:
Toyota 4Runner #950,000
Toyota Avalon #900,000
Toyota Avensis #950,000
Toyota Camry tiny light #450,000
Toyota Camry muscle #850,000.
Toyota Camry Big daddy #650,000
Toyota Corolla le #500,000/#850,000. Corolla S, XLE
Toyota FJ Cruiser #1.1M
Toyota Hiace #1.5m
Toyota Highlander #950,000
Toyota Hilux #1.2m
Toyota Matrix #600,000
Toyota Prado #2m
Toyota Rav4 #650,000
Toyota Sequoia #950,000
Toyota picnic #670,000
Toyota Sienna #600,000
Toyota Tacoma #2.7m.
Toyota Tundra #2.5M.
Toyota Venza #1.2M
Toyota Yaris #900,000
Volkswagen Golf 2,3,4 #250,000 /#450,000
Volkswagen Passat #600,000.
Volkswagen Touareg #600,000
Acura MDX #1.3
Acura TL #1M
Acura ZDX #2M
Audi A4 #500,000
Audi A6 #650,000
BMW 3-Series #650,000
BMW 5-Series #980,000
Ford Escape #600,000
Ford Explorer #900,000
Honda Baby Boy #500,000
Honda Accord 03 EOD #860,000
Honda Civic #500,000
Honda Crosstour #1.1M
Honda CR-V #750,000
Hyundai Accent #950,000.
Infiniti FX35 #1M
Infiniti FX45 #1.2M
Land Rover Discovery #3M
Lexus ex 300 #800,000
Lexus Rx330,#900,000
Lexus Rx350,#1.4m
Lexus Rx400, #2m
RANG ROVER SPORT =#2.5M.
Land Rover LR3 #950,000.
MERCEDES BENZ DIFFERENT MODEL.
NOTICE: THE PRICE OF THOSE VEHICLES DEPEND ON THEIR YEAR MODEL.