The Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics Investigative Committee, established by the Honourable Minister of Sports Development, John Owan Enoh, is set to hold its first public hearing on Thursday, October 5, 2024, in Abuja. This marks the beginning of what many hope will be a thorough investigation into Nigeria’s poor performance at the games.

Victor Okangbe, the committee’s secretary, confirmed that the inaugural session will take place at the Media Center of the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. Key figures, including the Minister of Sports, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Sports Development (FMSD) Tinuke Watti, and Head of the Federation of Elite Athletes Department, Bamiduro Olumide, are expected to make appearances before the committee.

The committee’s core mandate is to revisit and address several pressing issues that marred Nigeria’s Olympic campaign, damaging the country’s international sporting reputation. Among the key issues under review is the omission of sprinter Favour Ofili from the final roster, a mishap that stunned many sports enthusiasts and raised serious questions about administrative oversight. The doping concerns that surrounded some athletes also form part of the investigation, as Nigeria’s anti-doping protocols were put into the spotlight during the Games.

Additionally, the committee will probe into the alleged contract agreement between Actively Black, a U.S.-based sportswear company, and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC). The terms of the contract, and whether they contributed to any mismanagement of resources, will be scrutinized, particularly given the financial outlay the country made in preparation for the Games.

The committee is also tasked with investigating the code of conduct among members of Team Nigeria, focusing on discipline, unity, and overall representation of the country at the Games. Numerous reports emerged during the Olympics and Paralympics about team morale and internal conflicts, which may have influenced performance outcomes.

The committee is chaired by veteran journalist Mumuni Alao and includes esteemed individuals representing various regions of the country. Its members are Aliyu Mohammed (North-West), Rakiya Muhammed (North-Central), Godwin Enakhena (South-South), Abubakar Ango (North-East), and Nnene Akudo (South-East). The secretary, Victor Okangbe, hails from the South-South region.

In his remarks, Sports Minister John Owan Enoh highlighted that the committee members were carefully chosen for their track record of integrity and independence. None of them hold affiliations with the Ministry of Sports or any of the groups involved in organizing Nigeria’s participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics. This is to ensure an impartial and transparent investigation, with the goal of identifying those responsible for Nigeria’s lackluster performance and ensuring accountability.

Despite the significant investment of billions of Naira, Nigeria returned home from the 2024 Olympic Games without a single medal, marking the eighth time in the country’s history that it came back empty-handed. The last time Nigeria faced such a disappointing outcome was at the 2012 London Olympics. The failure was a painful reminder of the ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s sports administration, athlete development, and preparation strategies.

However, Nigeria’s Paralympic athletes delivered a more promising performance, though it fell short of the country’s past successes. The Nigerian team managed to secure seven medals: two gold, three silver, and two bronze. While these achievements were commendable, they paled in comparison to the nation’s previous Paralympic outings, where Nigerian athletes had historically dominated events, especially in powerlifting and track events.

The committee’s work is crucial not only for understanding what went wrong in Paris but also for building a solid foundation for future participation in international sporting events. The findings could lead to significant reforms in the management of Nigeria’s sports sector, with a focus on improving athlete welfare, anti-doping measures, and contract transparency.

Success Ayagwa, a 400-level student at the Air Force Institute of Technology in Kaduna, raced 64 km to honor Nigeria’s 64th independence day.

The long-distance runner performed the feat at the Nigerian Air Force Base in Kaduna on Tuesday, beginning at 5 a.m. and ending at 10 a.m.

“I wanted to demonstrate my love for my country, Nigeria, and my talent in long-distance running,” Success said reporters after the race.

“It was really tough running for five hours, but I knew with perseverance, I would achieve it,” he joked.

Success is commemorating Nigeria’s independence for the second year in a row with a big run, having completed 63 kilometers last year.

Success’ coach, Sergeant Wayo Emmanuel, Chief Instructor at AFIT’s Office of the Director of Sports, recognized his talent two years back.

Success has made considerable progress in his sporting career thanks to Emmanuel’s mentorship.

“Success emerged 7th among runners at the Okpekpe road race last year. With determination, I believe he can achieve his desired goals, especially as he is still within the age range for runners,” Emmanuel said.

The Director of Public Relations at AFIT, Wing Commander Bassey Okon, praised Success’s resilience and urged Nigerians to work together with the government to achieve greatness.

“If youths develop this mindset, Nigeria will be great tomorrow. AFIT’s commandant, Air Vice Marshal Saleh Rabe, has provided leadership that inspires students to excel in various aspects of life,” he said.

The AFIT spokesman added that Success’s achievement was a testament to the institution’s commitment to nurturing exceptional talent.

At the recently concluded 11th Federation of Africa University Sports Games, 2024, the American University in Cairo, Lagos State University, and the University of Lagos finished first through third.

LASU and UNILAG co-hosted the ‘Lagos 2024’ event, which concluded on Sunday.

The competition, themed ‘Unite, Compete, and Excel,’ ran from September 20 to 29, 2024. The American University of Cairo won first position with an amazing 46 gold, 28 silver, and 8 bronze medals.

LASU came in second place with 28 gold, 30 silver, and 26 bronze medals, while UNILAG finished third with 25 gold, 23 silver, and 40 bronze medals.

The University of Ghana finished fourth, winning nine gold, nine silver, and fourteen bronze medals. At the same time, the University of Development Studies in Ghana finished fifth with seven gold, two silver, and two bronze medals. Benson Idahosa University, Benin, Edo State finished sixth with six gold, five silver, and seven bronze medals.

Other notable performances included the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, in seventh place with five gold, four silver, and four bronze medals; the University of Zambia, in eighth place with five gold, one silver, and two bronze; Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, in ninth place with five gold, one silver, and zero bronze; and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana, in tenth place with four gold, seven silver, and two bronze medals.

At the closing ceremony, Dr. Bawa Mohammed, President of the Nigerian Universities Games Association and Chairman of the Organising Committee, thanked the host Vice-Chancellors, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello of LASU and Prof. Folasade Ogunsola of UNILAG, for their contributions to the games’ success.

He noted, “The 11th FASU Games is historic, as the event returned to Nigeria after 20 years.”

Recognizing the difficulties of organizing the event, Mohammed stated, “No event is without hitches, and even the past Olympics had years of planning and still had problems. However, we are happy of the records broken, particularly the installation of the Video Assistant Referee at LASU.”

Olatunji-Bello, Vice-Chancellor of LASU, thanked FASU and NUGA for entrusting LASU and UNILAG with hosting the 11th edition, characterizing it as a demonstration of how sports can unite Africa. “We look forward to hosting another edition of the games in the near future,” she remarked.

Similarly, UNILAG’s VC, Prof. Ogunsola, lauded the camaraderie fostered by the event, stating, “Over the past few days, African universities have not only witnessed sporting excellence but also the unity that sports can bring. The athletes have showcased extraordinary talent, resilience, and teamwork, values essential in both sports and leadership.”

Dr Ashraf Sobhy, FASU President and Egyptian Minister of Sports, was represented by FASU Secretary General Peninnah Kabenge, who highlighted the games’ achievement in bringing African institutions together via record-breaking performances and team spirit.

“Let us carry forward the spirit of lasting friendship and unity among African universities,” he urged, announcing that the Vice-Chancellors of LASU and UNILAG were now official patrons of FASU until the next games.

The tournament featured 834 competitors (590 males and 244 females) from 70 universities, supported by 185 officials, competing in 17 sports.