The President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Tonobok Okowa, has reiterated the Federation’s determination to ensure Nigeria’s elite athletes achieve podium finishes at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Speaking after a strategic stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, Okowa said the AFN reviewed Nigeria’s performance at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo and identified areas for improvement ahead of next year’s event.
According to him, the Federation — in partnership with sponsors and with continued support from the National Sports Commission (NSC) — is committed to providing athletes with the necessary support in training, welfare, logistics, and equipment.
“We commend our athletes for giving Nigeria a positive image in Tokyo,” Okowa said. “The country reached four finals — the men’s 100m, women’s 100m hurdles, men’s 400m hurdles (where a national record was set), men’s 200m, and the men’s shot put — and capped it all with a silver medal. For us in the AFN, it was a huge achievement.”
He added that efforts were ongoing to fulfill promises made to the athletes, assuring that with the right backing, Nigerian athletes would continue to shine internationally.
Okowa listed top performers such as Favour Ofili, Tobi Amusan, Udodi Onwuzurike, Ezekiel Nathaniel, Sunday Israel Okon, and Chukwuebuka Enekwechi as key prospects for podium finishes at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games.
The AFN boss also revealed that the Federation was working to resolve issues related to athletes’ visas and kits by engaging reputable partners and sportswear manufacturers. He clarified that the existing deal with Hi-Racer was only a temporary arrangement for the Tokyo Championships.
Okowa further appealed to the media to continue projecting Nigerian athletes positively, noting that such encouragement boosts their morale and performance.
He concluded by thanking AFN board members, sponsors, the media, and other stakeholders for their continued support toward the growth and development of athletics in Nigeria.
