The National Association of Women in Sports (NAWIS) has praised the National Sports Commission (NSC) for its exemplary leadership in fostering unity and progress in Nigerian sports, following the election of former Nigerian athlete Fatima Yusuf-Olukoju as NAWIS’s representative on the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) board.
The election, held in Abuja on Monday, saw Yusuf-Olukoju triumph over veteran sports journalist Nneka Anibeze in a closely contested race. To address potential tensions arising from the outcome, NSC Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade promptly convened a reconciliatory meeting with NAWIS leadership and both candidates. The meeting successfully resolved differences, uniting the parties to work collaboratively for the advancement of women and girls in Nigerian sports.
Yusuf-Olukoju expressed gratitude for the NSC’s proactive approach, particularly commending Olopade and NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko for their transformative leadership. “The DG has a unique ability to bring everyone together for constructive dialogue, which is vital for Nigerian sports,” she said. “NAWIS is proud of the re-engineering happening in the sector under their guidance.”
Emphasizing unity, Yusuf-Olukoju extended an olive branch to Anibeze, noting their shared commitment to athletics. “Nneka and I have no hard feelings. She’s been a stalwart in athletics, even covering me as an athlete. We’ll work together to move the AFN forward,” she added, highlighting their mutual goal of empowering female athletes.
Anibeze echoed these sentiments, applauding Olopade’s intervention in preventing post-election discord. “The DG’s mediation was crucial in brokering peace,” she said. “Fatima is an athletics icon with plans that align with mine for women and girls. Together, we’ll achieve great things for the AFN.”
The NSC’s reconciliatory efforts have been hailed as a model for fostering harmony in Nigerian sports, ensuring that the AFN board, with Yusuf-Olukoju’s inclusion, is poised to drive meaningful progress for women’s athletics.