Lagos, Nigeria – Make we gist small about wetin dey happen for athletics world as Favour Ofili, our star sprinter wey don dey shine for US, don sharp sharp change her allegiance to Turkey, and na the president of Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Tonobok Okowa, go confirm am. E talk say this matter dey serious as athletes dey waka go better foreign programmes with more money like say dem dey run away from Nigeria.
For press briefing wey happen during the 2025 National Athletics Championship for Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Okowa no hold back as e discuss the deep crisis wey fit make Nigeria lose her top athletes. ‘Most of our elite athletes don dey receive offers from other countries to change their nationality and allegiance,’ he talk. Na so we hear say Favour don land with Turkey Federation.
This switch no just come at any time o; e happen just months before the 2025 World Athletics Championships wey go hold for Tokyo. Even though Ofili name still dey Nigeria side for World Athletics website, insiders don dey whisper say her switch go soon clear like say na movie scene.
Favour Ofili don already dey among those wey turn heads for Olympics, and her gree go Turkey na just one of the many wahala wey dey vex athletes for Naija. We get history wey don repeat, like Francis Obikwelu wey join Portugal, Gloria Alozie wey enter Spain, and Femi Ogunode wey run go Qatar in search of beta facilities. Na wetin we dey see! (Chai, this talent drain fit make person cry, e no even joke).
Okowa talk say na money wey dey call athletes to foreign countries be the koko of this matter. ‘The kind of money dem dey put for table for her no be wetin any athlete fit just waka away from,’ he yarn. E dey appeal to Naija government and private sponsors make dem take am serious before dem lose more talents like Favour.
Reports show say Turkey don begin to offer better incentives, reach $500,000 for top talents wey fit change allegiance. Na serious competition wey Nigeria need to face before more top athletes leave. Okowa dey call for help from private sector sponsors to push for better facilities and support for athletes wey still dey here. ‘We need more sponsors for this matter,’ he don talk. ‘Government no fit do am all alone.’
But no be say the talent dey lack o. Okowa still praise the boys wey dey run for men’s 100 metres event during the national championships, as e say dem don mature, dey perform like champions. ‘Our boys don come of age and dem dey in shape now,’ Okowa talk. ‘When dem go Oregon, people dey ask questions, but now, dem dey shine for the NCAA and dey win.’ E dey reason wetin we dey do to keep them for Naija.
Favour Ofili switch to Turkey no be just about her; e suppose wake up authorities for Nigerian athletics. The message clear: without proper funding, consistent support, and local sponsors, we go continue to lose our brightest stars to countries wey go give dem wetin dem no get for home: better opportunities, stability, and respect. If dem no act fast, na to dey watch as our stars dey waka go Turkey go collect correct money. (E be like say we dey lose this match already, abeg make dem wake up!).
