Sports Federation Presidents For Abuja IOC-Backed Governance Training

By Samuel Akpan

Nigerian sports federation presidents will gather in Abuja next week for a two-day good governance seminar being hosted by the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), backed by the International Olympic Committee and its Olympic Solidarity arm.

The workshop holds from September 28 to 29 at Starview Palace Hotel, 4th Avenue by Setraco, Gwarinpa, Abuja.

The drive seeks to sharpen leadership, administrative and governance capacity of federation presidents while embedding internationally recognised standards of integrity across Nigerian sport.

Topics include sports architecture, leadership principles, governance structures, responsibilities of presidents and secretary-generals, effective federation management, and identification plus prevention of corruption in sport.

The programme follows the Olympic Movement’s Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance, which champion transparency, accountability, integrity, ethical conduct, solid organisational structures and reliable regulatory systems.

Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) Secretary-General Babatunde Popoola stated that the upcoming seminar will provide a platform for federation presidents to share experiences, address current governance challenges, and craft practical solutions for improved sports administration.

The workshop will be facilitated by IOC-appointed international expert Dr. Donald Rukare, President of Commonwealth Sport and MEMOS instructor in Sports Management.

Reaffirming the NOC’s commitment, President Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel emphasized the committee’s dedication to empowering sports administrators through continuous professional development.

The session will be officially opened by National Sports Commission Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko, underscoring how strong governance drives the credibility, sustainability, and overall growth of Nigerian sports organizations.