By Aderonke Ojo
The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) has unveiled the Nigeria Safeguarding in Sports Policy, a framework designed to protect athletes and other sports participants from abuse, harassment, discrimination, exploitation, neglect and related misconduct.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the policy, unveiled in Abuja, is expected to strengthen athlete protection mechanisms and promote a safer and more inclusive sporting environment across the country.
Speaking at the event, the President of the NOC, Habu Gumel, described the policy as a major step towards aligning sports governance in Nigeria with global best practices.
“It is also targeted at safeguarding principles of the International Olympic Committee (IOC),” he said.
Gumel said the policy was aimed at establishing a zero-tolerance stance against all forms of abuse in sports.
He said it would also provide clear standards, reporting mechanisms and accountability structures across all levels of sporting activities.
According to Gumel, the welfare, dignity and safety of athletes remain at the centre of the framework, with special emphasis on children, female athletes and persons with disabilities.
He urged national sports federations to domesticate and implement the policy, appoint safeguarding officers and strengthen education and awareness programmes within their organisations.
Chairman of the NOC Safeguarding Commission, Olajide Adebola, in his keynote speech, said safeguarding extends beyond physical protection to include psychological, emotional and sexual safety.
Adebola said athletes must also be protected from neglect, exploitation and other forms of misconduct.
He stressed the need for safe reporting channels, noting that victims of abuse often suffer long-term psychological consequences that affect both sporting performance and life outside sports.
According to him, safeguarding challenges often arise from power imbalances between athletes and officials.
He identified verbal abuse, intimidation, sexual misconduct, neglect of welfare and non-payment of allowances as forms of violations.
Adebola said the policy introduced confidential reporting systems, structured investigation procedures and sanctions for offenders.
He added that preventive measures, including training programmes, background checks and the deployment of safeguarding officers at sporting events, were also incorporated into the framework.
“A safeguarding failure is a leadership failure,” he said.
Adebola noted that preliminary findings from recent assessments, including those conducted during the National Sports Festival, indicated that cases of abuse and harassment remained prevalent in parts of the country’s sporting ecosystem.
He called for stronger athlete empowerment and protection against victimisation when reporting misconduct.
Also speaking, Shinaba Mohammed, Assistant Commander-General, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), described the policy as a declaration of collective responsibility to protect athletes and young people from abuse, exploitation, discrimination, bullying and substance abuse.
Mohammed linked safeguarding efforts to broader concerns over drug abuse and its impact on youth development.
He noted that sports remained an effective tool for discipline, character development and social inclusion.
The NDLEA pledged continued collaboration with sports authorities through awareness campaigns, preventive education and youth engagement programmes.
NAN reports that representatives of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, Nigeria Netball Federation and Nigeria Teqball Federation formally adopted the policy at the event.
The federations also pledged full implementation of the framework within their respective organisations.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Emmanuel Afonne
