Exclusive: Nigerian heptathlon star, Oluwakemi Ruth Francis, slams AFN, its poor welfare

Nigerian heptathlete Oluwakemi Ruth Francis has opened up about her tumultuous experience with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the country’s dismal welfare packages for athletes.

In an exclusive chat with Persecondnews, Francis, a Kogi-born athlete with an impressive 88 medals, revealed that the AFN’s highhandedness cost her spots in the 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2024 Athletics Championship in Douala, Cameroon.

Francis described the welfare packages from the federation as “terrible,” citing this as a primary reason many young track and field athletes abandon Nigeria to represent other countries.

“If I had the chance to represent another country early in my career, I would have jumped on it, but at 31, it’s almost impossible to make the switch,” she lamented.

The African champion, during the interview, explained how her attempts to reach out to ex-Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State were rebuffed, denying her the opportunity to transfer her experience and skills to the next generation of athletes in the state.

She urged corporate bodies and energy drink companies to prioritize athletes as brand ambassadors instead of models unfamiliar with sports.

“It’s disheartening to see non-athletes representing sports brands. We are the ones in the field, and our endorsement would genuinely boost their products,” Francis said.

The no-holds-barred interview with the Kogi state star athletes illuminates the challenges Nigerian athletes encounter, emphasizing the necessity for reform and improved support systems.

Here is the full interview:

PSN: Looking at your medal cabinet, does it equate to the reception from AFN or the defunct Ministry of Sports in terms of welfare packages?

Francis: The way they treat athletes in Nigeria is terrible. They focus only on football. If I had the opportunity to leave Nigeria, I would have ‘japa’ (left) too.

In athletics in Ghana, we won overall at the All African Games; we won 98 medals at the games, and athletics contributed a huge chunk to that, but at the end of the day, football gets more recognition and packages than us; this is the reason so many young athletes are discouraged to compete or represent the country.

If I had the opportunity to leave Nigeria, I would have ‘Japa’ (left) to represent another country.

But I can’t do that now, because if I have to, I will not compete for three years so as to make me eligible; considering my age, it’s not possible.

PSN: Prior to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, you had an amazing record on the continent and nationally, but you didn’t make the cut to travel. What happened?

Francis:I was dropped a night before departure for the Commonwealth Games, and the same thing happened in 2024.

I won silver at the All African Games but was dropped from participating in the 23rd African Athletics Championship. I was shocked. I made frantic efforts to reach out to the people at the top but got no positive response.

The championship in Douala that I was supposed to compete in on Day 1 was rescheduled to Day 3, so if they really wanted me to participate at the championship, I would have made it. My bags were already packed, just waiting for the green light that never came.

I was among the fastest in the country; some officials told me that they had sent my name, but they could not explain why I wasn’t part of the travelling contingent.

It’s only in Nigeria this keeps happening; we witnessed the same at the Paris Olympics. I know we can do better.

PSN: Looking at your accomplishments so far, do you have plans of going back to your state to groom the next generation?

Francis: I am from Kogi State; till date, no recognition from my state; sometimes I don’t blame the federal government; nobody is asking what their state government is doing for athletes.

I sent messages to the ex-governor of my state, Yahaya Bello, with no response. I didn’t call to beg but to see how we can develop sports in my state.

I boast of 88 medals in my career, both national and international; that’s a rear feat, but nobody from the AFN, the Ministry of Sports, or my state government has given me my flowers, but the Super Eagles team that came in second in the AFCON were received by the President of the country.

Athletes who have done more and broken records for the country don’t get such reception; if there is no equal treatment of all athletes in Nigeria, then there is a big problem.”

PSN: Since the government is not ready to partner with you, what about corporate bodies?

Francis: I have not gotten any support from any corporate body; I have never had any support from any of them.

I’m not happy when I see energy drink companies, for instance, using faces of people who are not in the field of sports as their brand image on billboards and advertisements.

They need to come to athletes like us because we are in the field, and that will boost their products.