By our reporter 15.9.2025
Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare has accused Nigerian sports officials of allegedly blocking Nigerian athletes from getting lucrative endorsement deals from big brands in the sportswear manufacturing business.
Okagbare who was speaking against the background of the recent outburst by Tobi Amusan at the World Athletics Championships over poor quality and quantity of kits supplied to athletes said the Sports Ministry, Nigeria Olympic Committee and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria officials have made it difficult for Team Nigeria athletes to get kits supplies from sportswear brands, just like athletes from other nations do.
Nigeria with its pedigree and potentials in track and field have in the past had kit endorsement deals from brands like Nike, Fila, Addidas and the last being Puma which Okagbare is making reference.
“In 2021, when we got the best sponsorship deal from a shoes company, those in power from the Ministry of Sports, NOC and AFN, even one always acting as the federation president while he wasn’t anymore, did all they could to sabotage it. I asked one what they stood to gain if we didn’t get those gears, and he rolled his eyes at me,” she Okagbare wrote on her X social media page.
“Those gears arrived and were in Tokyo in 2021, but they made sure the athletes did not get them. See ehn, these people. Now you’re trying to condemn an athlete for stating the obvious. So, what if you bought her a business class flight ticket?”
She slams Nigerian sports officials in Tokyo for trying to censure Amusan who raised an eyebrow about the kits supplied to the athletes at the World Championships.
“They are always looking for ways to silence an athlete’s voice. Like seriously, who do us like this? Even when an athlete boldly speaks the truth with so much evidence, they would use their own media platform to discredit the athlete as covering up for their incompetence,” Okagbare added.
OKagbare,35, the Nigerian record holder in the women’s 100m with 10.79seconds is currently out of track and field business after the Athletes Integrity Unit of the World Athletics in 2022 slammed a career ending 11-year ban on her for doping violations.
Blessing Okagbare...