Ex-AFN President Ngerem Blames Poor Athlete Welfare says it’s the reason why they are leaving Nigeria

Former president of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Dan Ngerem, has attributed the growing trend of Nigerian athletes switching national allegiance — including sprinter Favour Ofili’s reported move to Turkey — to the country’s persistent failure to support its sports stars beyond grassroots development.

In an interview with M4S TV, Ngerem expressed frustration over Nigeria’s inability to maintain the careers of elite athletes, saying the country invests significantly in their early development only to neglect them when they reach the top level.

“Producing an elite athlete is a long-term commitment that begins at the primary school level,” Ngerem explained. “Nigeria does put in the work early on, but when it’s time to sustain that success, we drop the ball. There’s a glaring lack of structure for long-term support.”

He criticized the sports administration’s “shotgun approach” — one that prioritizes competition-day logistics over athlete welfare — and described a system plagued by poor planning and inconsistent funding.

“There’s a clear disconnect between nurturing talent and helping it flourish. We fail to provide the support necessary for athletes to peak and deliver medals consistently. There’s no steady investment in their management or well-being,” he said.

Ngerem condemned the cycle of neglect in Nigerian sports, where attention spikes around major competitions but quickly fades once the events are over.

“We treat sports like a seasonal event. Once the competition ends, we forget the athletes until the next one. Meanwhile, countries that are serious about sports are recruiting our talent because they understand the value of consistent investment,” he said.

He defended athletes like Ofili who opt to represent other nations, pointing to past examples of neglect, including medal-winning Paralympians who were reportedly abandoned at the airport after returning home victorious.

“These athletes aren’t the problem,” Ngerem insisted. “Some get injured and are forgotten. Others, even after achieving glory for Nigeria, are treated like afterthoughts. Who wouldn’t want to leave such a system?”

Calling for a fundamental overhaul, Ngerem said Nigeria must begin treating sports as a business that requires strategic investment and effective management.

“This isn’t how you run a business — and modern sports is a business. The real failure lies with those managing the system, not the athletes,” he concluded.

Ngerem’s remarks come amid renewed debate over 22-year-old Ofili’s future. The U.S.-based sprinter, who recently shattered the 150m world best at the Adidas Atlanta City Games, is reportedly disillusioned with Nigeria’s handling of Olympic participation and broader administrative issues.

If confirmed, her switch to Turkey would place her among several high-profile Nigerian athletes who have changed national allegiance in recent decades — including Francis Obikwelu (Portugal), Gloria Alozie (Spain), Florence Ekpo-Umoh (Germany), Femi Ogunode (Qatar), and Salwa Eid Naser (Bahrain).

Unconfirmed reports suggest that Turkey’s athletics federation has been aggressively pursuing top-tier talent, allegedly offering incentives of up to $500,000 to attract foreign-born athletes.