The Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, has issued an apology to Nigerians following the country's disappointing performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. In a statement released on August 10, 2024, the minister acknowledged that Nigeria’s performance fell short of the expectations and aspirations of the nation.
Reflecting on the outcome, Senator Enoh stated, “The Olympic Games, Paris 2024, have ended, and I accept that our performance should have been a lot better. It obviously fell short of our objectives, expectations, and hopes of Nigerians. I must apologize to our compatriots and reflect on what went wrong while looking forward to the Paralympic Games, Paris 2024.”
The minister, who assumed office in August 2023, recounted the challenges he faced upon taking up his position, including the daunting task of preparing for four major international competitions—the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), the African Games, the Olympic Games, and the Paralympic Games—all within a few months.
“When I assumed office, I was reminded that the Olympic Games is the world's supreme sports competition, and countries require at least four years to prepare for it. However, I discovered that preparations for the Olympics, which was less than a year away, had not started,” he said.
Despite the time constraints, Senator Enoh emphasized the ministry’s commitment to upholding Nigeria’s international sports image. In his first week in office, he requested plans and programs from all National Sports Federations and embarked on a nationwide inspection of sports facilities.
To enhance Nigeria’s chances, the minister constituted a Ministerial Podium Performance Advisory Committee, comprising seasoned sports performance professionals, to drive preparations for the Olympics. However, he noted that at the time, Nigeria had barely qualified for any Olympic events.
The minister highlighted the multiple challenges faced during the qualification period, including the need for athletes to participate in several competitions within a short timeframe, which impacted their ability to peak at the Olympics.
“In many countries, athletes had already qualified almost a year ago and had structured their training programs accordingly. Despite being behind, we were not deterred,” Enoh explained.
In an effort to maximize Nigeria’s medal prospects, the ministry approved both onshore and offshore training camps, including facilities in Saarbrucken, Germany, and Sevilla, Spain. Ten of the eleven sports teams trained in Germany, based on recommendations from experts, including a former world champion and Olympic gold medalist.
The minister expressed his appreciation for the support provided by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who ensured that funds were made available, and athletes' needs were met. However, despite these efforts, the Nigerian team’s performance at the Olympics was disappointing.
“The underwhelming performance of our team is puzzling. We owe Nigerians an explanation,” the minister stated.
In response to the outcome, Senator Enoh announced that the ministry has begun a comprehensive review process to evaluate the readiness of each athlete, including their injury and medical history. The roles of coaches and administrative staff will also be scrutinized.
“There must be a lot of lessons to learn from our performance, and improvements must be made in all ramifications,” he added, referencing Nigeria's previous Olympic achievements, including a bronze medal in 2016 and a silver and bronze in 2020.
As the country prepares for the upcoming Paralympic Games in Paris, scheduled from August 28 to September 8, 2024, the minister expressed his determination to turn the disappointing Olympic outcome into a catalyst for positive change in Nigerian sports.
“We deserve more as a country,” Senator Enoh concluded, urging Nigerians to join in the effort to improve the nation’s sports performance in the future.
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