THE AFN (ATHLETICS FEDERATION OF NIGERIA)

In continuation of last week's wide look into the sport of athletics titled 'Athletics as a sport event', this week's episode of UPSHOT takes a brief historical look into athletics in Nigeria.

In 1944, a representative group of interested persons called a meeting, the outcome of which was the formation of a Central Committee of the Amateur Athletic Association of Nigeria.
The gentlemen who attended the historic meeting were:T.E. Archibong , F. K. Butler, A.H. Clift, N.S. Clouston, H.J. Ekperrigin, L.M.E. Emejulu, R.G. Henderson, S.M. Oduba, P.W. Price, T.B. Welch and G. Wilson.

Shortly thereafter, Constitution Laws were drafted largely on the Laws of the Amateur Athletic Association of Great Britain, but suitably revised and enlarged to suit local circumstances. Captain D.H. Holley, M.C. was selected the first President Mr. V.B.V. Powell, O.R.E., the first Honorary Secretary and Late Pa. S.O. Jolaoso, MBE the first Honorary Assistant Secretary.

Among the known living Nigeria foundation members are Messrs H.J. Ekpergin and S.O. Jolaoso, MBE. The Leadership of the Association has changed from hand to hand, and Mr. S.O. Williams, MON, an International and first class athlete and one time Commissioner for Labour has the distinction of being the first Nigerian Chairman.Famous and outstanding competing athlete at the time the Association was formed became the Chairman of the Association in person of Alhaji M.A. Arogundade between 1980 – 1982.  

The Association sent a team of athletes to the Untied Kingdom in 1948 for local competitions and to watch the 1948 Olympic Games in London.In 1950, Nigeria started to compete in the Commonwealth Games and Mr. J.O. Majekodunmi won a Silver Medal in High Jump at Christ Church New Zealand.

Nigeria had continued to take part in the Commonwealth Games except in Perth, Australia in 1962 and has been winning Gold, Silver and Bronze medals.   In 1952, the Association for the first time sent a team to the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland and has never stopped competing in the Olympic Games except when the African countries and others boycotted the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada.

Reputable Coaches from Britain and America have been invited to coach athletes in Nigeria and first class athletes have been invited from America and other countries to take part in special competitions in Nigeria organized by the Association.  

Ever since the formation of the Association, it has discovered athletes who have won laurels for our great nation in various International competitions.      

Below is a breakdown of the past Presidents Secretaries who served at the AFN

    
PRESIDENTS
1. Mr. D. H. Holley, M. C. 1944 – 45
2 .Mr. A. Miller 1946 – 48 

LOGO OF THE ATHLETICS FEDERATION OF NIGERIA

3.Mr. A. C. Hands (CBE) 1949 – 50
4.Mr. J. R. Bunting 1951 – 52
5.Mr. S. O. Williams 1953 – 54
6.Mr. P. H. Cook 1954 – 55
7.Mr. J. R. Bunting 1955 – 56
8.Late. Pa. S. O. Jolaoso (MBE) 1957 - 60
9.Mr. T. A. K. Oki 1960 – 61
10.Mr. S. O. Williams 1961 – 62
11.Mr. A. A. Ordia (MBE) 1962 – 63
12.Mr. Peter C. Chigbuo 1963 – 68
13.Mr. S. O. Williams (OON) 1969 – 79
14.Mr. M.A. Arogundade 1980 – 82
15.Mr. Peter C. Chigbuo 1982 – 83
16.Dr. George Ogan 1983 – 84
17.Wing Comdr. C. A. Dangaji 1985 – 87
18.Alhaji A.K.O. Amu (OFR) 1987 – 93
19.Mr. S. E. Akraka 1993 – 95
20.Alhaji A.K. O. Amu (OFR) 1995 – 97
 21.Mr. Tony Urhobo 1997 – 98
22.Mr. Adeyemi Wilson 1998 – 2001
23.Mr. Dan Ngerem 2001 – 2005
24.Chief (Mrs.) Violet Odogwu-Nwajei (MON) 2005 – 2009
25.Chief Solomon Ogba  2009 -

SECRETARIES
1.Late Pa. S. O. Jolaosho (MBE) 1944 – 56
2.Chief A. A. Ordia (MBE) 1959 – 62
3.Mr. John Elueze 1959 – 64
4.Mr. Dan Enajekpor 1964 – 71
5.Late Mr. S. O. Lawal 1971 – 75
6.Mr. G. Babalola 1975 – 76
7.Mrs. A. Okpalaoka (Asst.) 1975
 8.Late Mr. Ayo Alabi  1976 – 1977
 9.Late Mr. I. Osime 1977 – 79
10.Mrs. Yemisi Adesanya 1980
11.Mr. A.O. Adeosun 1981 – 1982
12.Late Ayodele Lawanson 1982 – 84
13.Mr. A.O. Ogundele 1984 – 86
14.Mr. Mohammed Bataya 1986 – 87
15.Mr. Alex Onyenwenwa 1987 – 98
16.Mrs. R.U. Adiole (Asst) 1982 – 98
17.Mr. Clement Iyaluegbeghe (Asst) 1988 – 92
18.Mr. Chris Aderibigbe (Asst) 1992 – 95
19.Mrs. Tayo Oreweme 1998 – 99
20.Mrs. Maria Wophill 1999 – January 2001
21.Caleb Gidado Jan. – July 2001
22.Mrs. Maria Wophill July 2001 – 2002
23.Dr. Simon Ebhojiaye 2002 – 2005
24.Mrs. Maria Wophill 2005 to date
25.Femi Omole (Asst) 2002 to 2007
26.U. M. Obot (Asst) 2002 to 2007
27.Oladapo Akinyele (Asst) 2007 to date
28.Mrs. Folashade Lawal(Asst) 2007 to date

Join me again next week to take a look into the world of Basketball
Habeeb Akinfegbe
morakinmoyo1@gmail.com
08060532466

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