President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engineer Habu Gumel, has launched the Nigeria Safeguarding Sports Policy, describing it as a landmark framework designed to protect athletes and other participants in sports from abuse, harassment, discrimination, exploitation reports Completesports.com.
Speaking at the official unveiling in Abuja o.n Tuesday, Gumel said the policy aligns with global best practices and the principles of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), stressing that every athlete has the right to train and compete in a safe, respectful and inclusive environment.
“Nigeria’s Safeguarding in Sports Policy is a formal declaration of a zero-tolerance stance against all forms of abuse and misconduct in sports,”* Gumel said. *”It establishes clear standards, reporting mechanisms and accountability structures for all stakeholders, from grassroots programmes to elite national teams.
“Let me use this occasion to urge national sports federations to domesticate and implement the policy, appoint safeguarding officers and strengthen education and awareness programmes. The welfare, dignity and well-being of athletes, particularly children, female athletes and persons with disabilities, must remain at the centre of sports development in Nigeria” the NOC Boss stated.
In a keynote address, Chairman of the NOC Safeguarding Commission, Dr. Olajide Adebola, said safeguarding extends beyond physical safety. It encompasses protection from psychological, sexual and emotional abuse, neglect and exploitation.
“People should be able to speak up about harassment in sports, abuse in sports, neglect in sports and exploitation in sports,”* Adebola said, warning that many victims suffer long-term psychological and mental health consequences that can affect performance, well-being and life beyond sports.
He noted that safeguarding concerns often arise from power imbalances between athletes and officials, coaches or administrators, adding that verbal humiliation, intimidation, sexual misconduct, neglect of athletes’ welfare and even the non-payment of allowances can constitute safeguarding violations.
According to him, the policy introduces confidential reporting channels, investigation procedures and sanctions for offenders, while promoting preventive measures such as training, background checks and the appointment of safeguarding officers at sporting events.
“A safeguarding failure is a leadership failure,” Adebola declared. “Today, the NOC leadership has demonstrated leadership to ensure that we can prevent harm.”
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He further revealed that preliminary findings from a safeguarding assessment conducted during the recent National Sports Festival indicated that abuse, neglect and harassment remain prevalent within parts of Nigeria’s sporting ecosystem.
Assistant Commander General of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Dara Kolo Shinaba Mohammed, who represented NDLEA Chairman Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), linking safeguarding efforts to the fight against drug abuse among young people and athletes.
He described the policy launch as “a declaration of collective responsibility”* and a commitment to protecting athletes, officials, women, children and other vulnerable persons from abuse, exploitation, harassment, discrimination, bullying and substance abuse.
Citing data from a national drug use survey, Mohammed warned that drug abuse remains a major threat to Nigeria’s youth population and called for greater investment in sports as a tool for prevention, character development and social inclusion.
“Sports is both a school and a skill,”he said. “It teaches discipline, perseverance, teamwork, respect, resilience, healthy competition and excellence.”
The NDLEA official pledged the agency’s support for the implementation of the safeguarding policy through awareness campaigns, preventive education, youth engagement initiatives and collaborative programmes aimed at protecting athletes from harmful influences.
A major highlight of the event was the formal adoption of the safeguarding policy by several national sports federations.
By Richard Jideaka Abuja
