PRESS RELEASE September 21, 2026
Nigeria Olympic Committee Hosts Good Governance Seminar for Sports Federation Presidents in Abuja ABUJA — With support from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Solidarity programme, the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) will organise a two-day Good Governance Seminar for presidents of National Sports Federations.
The seminar will take place from September 28 to September 29, 2026, at the Starview Palace Hotel, 4th Avenue by Setraco, Gwarinpa, Abuja.
The seminar is designed as a capacity-building and knowledge-sharing programme to strengthen the leadership and governance skills of National Sports Federation presidents and promote internationally recognized good governance standards in Nigerian sports.
The curriculum will cover key areas, including: Introduction to sports architecture Leadership principles and qualities Core governance principles and responses to governance challenges
Roles and responsibilities of presidents and secretary-generals Effective management of National Sports Federations Identifying forms and areas of corruption in sports.
The initiative supports the Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance within the Olympic Movement, which emphasize a clear vision and strategy, sound organizational structures and regulations, integrity, ethics, transparency, accountability, and effective control mechanisms.
The NOC considers good governance essential to the credibility, sustainability, and growth of sports organizations. As NOC affiliates, National Federations have a vital responsibility to maintain effective governance systems and operate in accordance with their constitutions, applicable regulations, and recognized ethical standards.
Nigeria Olympic Committee Secretary-General Babatunde Popoola said the seminar will give federation presidents a valuable opportunity to share experiences, discuss current governance challenges in Nigerian sports, and identify practical ways to improve administration and service delivery.
To ensure high-quality content delivery and programme coordination, the International Olympic Committee has appointed an international expert—Dr. Donald Rukare, President of Commonwealth Sport and a MEMOS instructor in Governance and Sports Management—to facilitate the seminar.
Nigeria Olympic Committee President Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel reaffirmed the NOC’s commitment to strengthening the capacity of sports administrators through continuous education, workshops, and training programmes as part of its mission to support sports development in Nigeria.
The Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, will officially declare the Abuja session open.
Signed:Tony Nezianya
Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Olympic Committee
08033034910
tonynezianya@gmail.com
