The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has issued a strong warning to Nigerian athletes to be cautious when entering into agreements with agents, foreign institutions or scholarship‑offering bodies, stressing that the Federation will not hesitate to intervene in deals considered harmful to athletes or detrimental to Nigeria’s interests.
AFN President, Chief Tonobok Okowa, said the Federation is increasingly concerned about the nature of agreements being signed by some athletes, particularly minors, without proper guidance. He emphasized that no contract signed by an athlete is “cast in stone,” especially when such arrangements threaten their education, career progression or national representation.
Okowa, who also serves as Senior Vice President of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), clarified that the AFN has not endorsed any agent or agency to provide scholarships to Nigerian athletes. He urged athletes and their families to seek professional advice before committing to any deal.
“It is necessary to protect young athletes from arrangements that could negatively affect their education, careers or national representation,” Okowa said.
The AFN disclosed that it recently advised an athlete to terminate an agreement involving an agent and a foreign school after determining that the deal was not in the athlete’s best interest and could undermine Nigeria’s sporting objectives.
In a related development, the Federation announced that it will not collaborate with Auburn University in the United States for as long as coach Ken remains at the institution. According to Okowa, the decision stems from concerns that the coach has discouraged Nigerian athletes from representing their country.
Okowa noted that while foreign scholarships and training opportunities can be beneficial, they must not compromise an athlete’s long‑term development or their duty to represent Nigeria. He revealed that AFN Second Vice President, Akuchukwu Aghazu—who is a lawyer—was directed to review a particular athlete’s agreement and subsequently provided legal guidance on the appropriate course of action.
The AFN President urged athletes and their families to remain vigilant and consult experts before signing any agreement, assuring them that the Federation will continue to protect their interests and ensure that opportunities offered to Nigerian athletes contribute positively to their growth.
