By Dorcas Francis Koji
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has warned Nigerian athletes and their families against signing scholarship agreements with agents or agencies without first carefully examining the terms and seeking appropriate advice.
The warning follows concerns over scholarship arrangements that could potentially affect athletes’ education, careers and long-term interests.
AFN President Tonobok Okowa said the federation is monitoring agreements involving Nigerian athletes and would intervene when any arrangement is found to be detrimental to an athlete or Nigeria’s interests.
The development comes amid allegations surrounding an agency reportedly offering scholarship-related services while tying athletes to five-year agreements and taking a 25 per cent share of their earnings.
Reports indicate that one such contract gives the agency exclusive authority to communicate with universities, compliance offices and sponsors on behalf of an athlete. The agreement reportedly also provides for the agency to receive 25 per cent of proceeds connected to financial obligations it helps secure.
AFN Moves to Protect Athletes
Okowa, who also serves as a Senior Vice President of the Confederation of African Athletics, stressed that athlete welfare remains a major responsibility of the federation.
He clarified that the AFN itself has not entered into any agreement with agents or agencies to provide scholarships to Nigerian athletes, urging athletes and their families to be particularly cautious when approached with such offers.
The federation also warned that athletes who are minors must not enter into agreements without the knowledge and consent of their parents or legal guardians.
“It is necessary to protect young athletes from arrangements that could negatively affect their education, careers or national representation,” Okowa said in a statement.
Federation Intervenes in Athlete’s Contract
The AFN disclosed that it had already advised one athlete to terminate an agreement involving an agent and a school after determining that the arrangement was not in the athlete’s best interest and could potentially harm Nigeria’s interests.
Okowa said he directed the AFN Second Vice President, Akuchukwu Aghazu, a lawyer, to review the circumstances surrounding the athlete’s agreement.
The AFN president urged athletes and their families to obtain proper legal and professional advice before signing scholarship or representation agreements.
He assured athletes that the federation would continue to safeguard their interests while ensuring that opportunities available to Nigerian athletes contribute meaningfully to their education, sporting careers and overall development.
Leave a comment