Reigning African 400m record holder (49.10), Chief Falilat Ogunkoya-Omotayo (MON) has been chosen as the chairman of the South West Athletics Association (SWAA) while the Chairman of Ekiti Athletics Association, Mr Samuel Fatunla was chosen as the technical director.
The SWAA, a body comprising of all chairmen of Athletics Associations in the six South West State of Nigeria and south west members on the board of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) met in Lagos at the weekend and in a communique after the meeting, it was unanimously resolved that Ogunkoya-Omotayo, the two-time Olympic medalist who was voted the best quarter-miler in the world in 1998 should continue as the association’s chairperson.
Chairman of Lagos state Athletics Association, Dr Solomon Alao who hosted the meeting will serve as the director of marketing/sponsorship with Dr. Isaac Ogada, chairman of Oyo State Athletics Association and Mr Dare Esan, the Editor of Complete Sports serving as the Secretary and Media Director respectively.
The association also appointed Elder Ademola Adigun,Chairman of Osun state Athletics Association as Treasurer while Olamide George, the South West representative who also doubles as the vice president of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria will serve as its leader.
The association thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing Mr Sunday Dare, as Minister for Youth and Sports Development and pledged to give the Minister total and unalloyed support to ensure he succeeds in his assignment.
The Association also pledged to support the organisation of grassroots athletics competitions (especially in schools) across the Southwest states starting with the Ilaji South West Athletics Classics which is scheduled to hold early next year in conjunction with Impact/IATV in Ibadan.
The Association also called on the Athletics Federation of Nigeria to,as a matter of urgency ensure that all affiliated state associations are given their due recognition, incentives, rights and privileges regarding the organisation of national/international competitions in the respective states.