Nigerian sprinter Chidi Okezie has called on the National Sports Commission and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria to establish a proper high-performance centre for athletes in the country.
Speaking on the future of Nigerian athletics, Okezie stressed that such a facility is necessary if athletes are to continue improving and competing consistently at elite level.
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“Nigeria needs a high-performance centre,” he said.
According to the sprinter, athletes require a professional environment where they can focus fully on training, recovery, and preparation before major competitions.
“It creates the right atmosphere,” he implied.
Okezie explained that proper camping structures would allow athletes to concentrate better and exchange ideas with one another while preparing for events.
“It helps athletes grow together,” he noted.
The Nigerian international emphasized that many top sporting nations already operate similar systems, giving their athletes an important advantage.
“We need modern structures too,” he added.
For Okezie, improving facilities and preparation environments is just as important as talent development.
“Talent alone is not enough,” he stressed.
He believes a dedicated high-performance centre would positively impact Nigeria’s results across multiple athletics events in the long term.
“It can improve performance significantly,” he said.
As Nigerian athletics continues to search for greater consistency globally, calls for improved infrastructure have become increasingly common.
For Okezie, the message is clear.
Invest in athletes.
Build proper facilities.
And create the right environment.
Because elite performance requires elite preparation.
