By EMMANUEL AFONE

The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) says its forthcoming Good Governance Seminar will equip presidents of National Sports Federations with practical skills to improve administration and service delivery.

NOC Public Relations Officer, Tony Nezianya, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Nezianya said the two-day seminar, supported by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Olympic Solidarity, would hold from Sept. 28 to Sept. 29 at Starview Palace Hotel, Gwarinpa, Abuja.

He said the programme would strengthen the leadership and governance capacity of federation presidents and expose them to internationally recognised standards in sports administration.

According to him, participants will gain knowledge and practical approaches to effective administration and management of sports federations.

He said the seminar would cover sports architecture, leadership principles and qualities, core governance principles and responses to governance challenges.

“Other areas will include the roles and responsibilities of presidents and secretary-generals, effective management of National Sports Federations and identifying forms and areas of corruption in sports,” he said.

Nezianya said the seminar would also help participants understand the Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance within the Olympic Movement.

He said the principles emphasised clear vision and strategy, sound organisational structures, integrity, ethics, transparency, accountability and effective control mechanisms.

The NOC official quoted its Secretary-General, Babatunde Popoola, as saying that the seminar would provide an opportunity for federation presidents to share experiences and examine governance challenges confronting Nigerian sports.

Popoola said the participants would also identify practical solutions to improve sports administration and service delivery.

Nezianya said Donald Rukare, President of Commonwealth Sport and a MEMOS instructor in Governance and Sports Management, had been appointed facilitator for the seminar.

He quoted NOC President, Habu Gumel, as reaffirming the committee’s commitment to continuous education, workshops and training for sports administrators.

Gumel said such programmes were part of the NOC’s efforts to strengthen the capacity of sports administrators and support the development of sports in Nigeria.

Nezianya said the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Malam Shehu Dikko, would officially declare the Abuja session open.