By Prof Emmanuel Ojeme
It is worthwhile to congratulate the Nigeria Olympic Committee for successfully overcoming the turmoil that characterized  the former Executive Committee.

Nigeria Olympic Committee members

The altercation then looked endless. It is worth rejoicing that eventually a new Nigerian Olympic Committee is now in place. Engr. Sani Ndanusa, who is the current President of the NOC, was also a former Minister of Sports and Chairman of NSC (National Sports Commission) as he vied for this position.

Transiting from Ministerial role to the leadership of the Non Governmental Organization, which the  NOC is, means that he has the capacity to understand the synergy that a National sports Institution and NOC should have to achieve most for Nigeria in the sports sector, at International levels. The thesis of this paper is that a symbiotic operational modality or paradigm would be in the best interest of Nigerian Sports.

It is noteworthy however, that the NOC derives its authority and rules from its parent body, the IOC which is also a non-governmental body. There are signs that in it’s early life, the current NOC is very enthusiastic and energetic about asserting its autonomy. The question that this brief paper addresses is: How much autonomy is desirable and appropriate?

The concept of autonomy connotes independence of operations in sports matters: It means to act with finality of authority as a principal sports organ, taking decisions affecting Nigerian sports and athletes without collaboration and consultations with National Sports agencies, in adherence to IOC prescribed rules. This clarification has become necessary in order to put the question raised here in its perspective and the concerns arising therefrom.

Going by IOC rules of engagement, the NOC is empowered to operate like an autonomous body. But how realistic is this? Can the NOC exercise absolute autonomy without synergizing or collaborating with national sports agencies, when it is denominated in the name of Nigeria?

It is critical for the NOC to reflect on this question as it conducts its activities. The athletes that represent Nigeria in competitions are our citizens. Will the NOC not need to balance its loyalty between the IOC and the Nigerian Government?

At this point I am compelled to state that the creation of autonomous organizations in sovereign nations as the practice is, with all due respect, is self serving and selfish. These international bodies cannot organize their competitions without the sponsorship and approval of a national government. It is therefore, controvertible to entrench operational modalities that handcuff the involvement of national governments in the control of programmes involving its citizens.

Hence, what is workable, in my argued position, is a shared authority, with the NOC as a junior partner to national authorities irrespective of the statutes of engagement. Without Nigeria as a sovereign nation, there cannot be a Nigeria Olympic Committeee.

The Former precedes the later. And I believe that charity must begin from home. This is what wisdom instructs. The NOC must be very discreet, therefore, in its operations and ensure that it does nothing to undermine the authority, interest and wishes of Nigerian Sorts Authorities.

Will this NOC be able to read between the lines and balance nationalism dictates and its crave for autonomy? Does the NOC have a choice in this scenario? Will it operate like other sports bodies in the Federation such as the Nigerian Football Federation that often runs to FIFA as a corporate body or its membership that finds succour and protection from its parent body? Personally I find it detestable and self serving, whenever such tendencies are manifested.

To avoid this scenario, the NOC must maintain constant dialogue with national sports agencies and avoid public show of power and quotation of its statute. The NOC is not a government by other means. It must perpetually understand the challenge of being a Nigerian Olympic Committee in the exercise of its functions as it operates under the jurisdiction of IOC.

In another perspective, sports development in Nigeria is an integral component of national development. The NOC is a sports development agency that is driven by extra_national rules. So, whose interest will it serve? It must of course, serve the interest of the Nigerian nation.

Sport operations must always note the fact that sports development in Nigeria as in development of other sectors such as the economy, health, agriculture, tourism etc all has international collaborating agencies but none of these other bodies dictates to national government as it is in the character of international sports bodies.

We need therefore, to moderate our actions in terms location of locus of control. I am in no way a government spokesman. My argument is based on patriotic responsibility which we all share and discovery of the imperialistic tendencies of international sports bodies as well as and the inverted logic of their operational modalities.

How much autonomy is desirable and appropriate for the Nigeria Olympic Committee?  My considered response is that NOC autonomy is desirable and appropriate to the extent that it is always exercised in Nigeria’s national interest.

I wish at this point to congratulate the NOC for setting up its Court of Sports Arbitration (CAS). The head of this body, Barrister Adokiye Amiesimaka is well appointed. I have worked with him in critical national sports development committees. I found him to be very analytical and logical in his thought process. He is a good listener and eloquent in speech. He is also very courageous in his pronouncements.

He is an experienced lawyer and an advocate of this body. I believe he will do well, so, I wish him success. My candid advise to him is to pilot the affairs of this body, of which, he is the boss, in the best national interest.