Chairman of Delta state Athletics Association Tonobok Okowa on Monday takes over from former President, Shehu Gusau as he emerged President of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).
Okowa who was the sole candidate for the position of President polled 41 votes (three voided) and was duly returned as the president of the AFN by the chairman of the AFN Electoral Commission, Mr Elias Gora, former General Secretary of the Nigeria Olympics Committee and former World Athletics lecturer and course director.
In his acceptance speech, the new AFN president says he will work assiduously to bring peace within the athletics family so that ”we all can keep the family as a unit to take the sport of track and field to greater height.
He promised to make the welfare of athletes and coaches his number one priority.
“I want to assure all athletes and technical officials that their welfare will be top on my list and that of the entire board of the AFN.”
Sydney 2000 Olympics 4x400m gold medalist, Tafida Gadzama was elected the first vice president. He polled a total of 43 votes and in his acceptance speech promised all athletes and technical officials a new dawn.
Another former Nigerian international Rosa Collins was elected the second vice chairman Collins, the 1995 African Games triple jump champion and former African record holder in the event polled 42 votes.