The two-day seminar will be organised by NOC with support from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Solidarity programme.
By Staff Reporter
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Published on September 24, 2026
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3 min read
A capacity-building and knowledge-sharing seminar to strengthen the leadership, governance skills of National Sports Federation presidents, and promote internationally recognised good governance standards in Nigerian sports will begin on Sept. 28 in Abuja.
Tony Nezianya, the Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) made this known in a statement.
According to him, the two-day seminar will be organised by NOC with support from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Solidarity programme.
He stated, “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 recognised 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 emphasise a clear vision and strategy, sound organisational structures and regulations, integrity, ethics, transparency, accountability, and effective control mechanisms.”
Nezianya said the NOC considered good governance essential to the credibility, sustainability, and growth of sports organisations.
As NOC affiliates, National Federations have a vital responsibility to maintain effective governance systems and operate in accordance with their constitutions, applicable regulations, and recognised ethical standards.
Nigeria Olympic Committee Secretary-General Babatunde Popoola said the seminar would 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.
Nezianya said the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, will officially declare the Abuja session open.
