Nigeria’s Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare has inaugurated the country’s sports anti-drug committee, Nigeria National Anti Doping Committee (NADC).
The inauguration was done on Friday in Abuja.
It will be that President Muhammadu Buhari, in July, approved the reconstitution of the membership of the governing body of the National Anti-Doping Committee (NADC), to drive its administration for the next four years.
Members of the NADC’s new governing body are Professor Kenneth Anugweje, who will serve as chairman.
The Minister thanked the outgone committee led by Barrister Kazeem Olaranwaju for a job well done.
Nigeria has improved significantly in the fight against drug cheats. From 27 to 152 test has been reached by Nigeria and this development has led to words of commendation by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Chief Sunday Dare while inaugurating the Board Friday, in his office in Abuja, stated that Anti-Doping has become a technical and integral part of sports that scrutinizes the integrity and credibility of the Sports of any nation before the watchful eye of the international community.
According to him, “Nigerian Sports has overtime borne the unfortunate scars of Anti-Doping with the positive drug test results of some athletes, as such, it has put in place the required structure and policy that would enable the country to administer anti-doping in line with the international standards and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code Requirements.
This he said, has earned the country commendation from the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for her Anti-Doping drive, increase testing of athletes and the deliberate efforts being made to compete fairly and cleanly.
Dare added that the Board as approved by President Muhammadu Buhari will be the third of the NADO Board and is made up of eminent personalities who have been selected based on their technical expertise and experience in sports and Anti-Doping related matters.
“The NADC has the mandate to ensure that we promote clean sport, that will also meet the requirement and the threshold that is necessary on a global scale, working very closely with WADA.” Dare stated.
“It was in this need that the NADC was born and recognised by WADA as Nigeria’s Interim Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO) to initiate and implement a National Anti-Doping program, NAD, consistent with the provision of WADA Code and international standards.” He further said.
It’s Mandate::
•Promote doping-free sports in all its ramifications in Nigerian sports through all the policy decisions that ensure a level playing field for all to participate.
•Approve and monitor all multi-strategic and annual plans.
•Encourage National and International harmonisation on Anti-Doping in Sports.
•Advise the Minister on any matter relating to Doping in sports.
•The critical responsibility of the Board is to drive to a conclusion the establishment of a legislatively-backed National Anti-Doping bill for the country.
Speaking on behalf of the members, the Chairman of the Board, Prof. Kenneth Anugweje thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for allowing them to serve the country in this capacity.
He assured that the Board members will bring in their wealth of experience and expertise so as to preserve the integrity of the Organisation by committing to a high standard of responsibility and objectivity in line with the WADA Code.
The Committee has a four-year tenor.
The New Board:
Professor Kenneth C. Anugweje – Chairman
Mr John Oluwafemi Ayorinde – Member
Mainasara Illo – Member
Mrs Omolewa Abike Akinba – Member
Dr Olusegun Akinlotan – Member
Barr. Emmanuel Omuku – Member
Dr Godfrey Odigie – Member
Ms Fadeke Fadeyibi – Secretary and CEO