FG Inaugurates Nigeria Anti-Doping Centre Technical Board, Vows to Protect Integrity of Sports

By Johnson Arua

The Federal Government has inaugurated the Technical Board of the Nigeria Anti-Doping Centre (NADC), reaffirming its commitment to promoting integrity, fairness and excellence in sports in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Abuja on Thursday, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, described the event as a major milestone in Nigeria's sporting history, saying the country had moved from policy commitments to a fully constituted, independent and legally backed anti-doping institution.

According to a statement by the Head, Information and Public Relations in the office of SGF, Chris Ugwuegbulam, Senator Akume said the inauguration followed the enactment of the National Anti-Doping Act, 2025, which established the NADC as a statutory body empowered to implement Nigeria's anti-doping obligations in line with the World Anti-Doping Code.

He noted that repeated doping violations had negatively affected Nigeria's international sporting reputation, stressing that the establishment of the Centre was a decisive step towards restoring confidence in the country's sports sector.

The SGF charged members of the Technical Board to carry out their responsibilities with professionalism, independence and accountability, emphasizing that their appointment was a call to service rather than a ceremonial assignment.

According to him, the Board will be responsible for educating athletes and stakeholders on anti-doping regulations, preventing doping violations, protecting clean athletes and enforcing anti-doping rules where necessary. He also urged members to extend anti-doping awareness campaigns to grassroots sports, schools, community clubs, sports academies and national sports federations.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports Development, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi, congratulated the board members and pledged continued legislative support for the implementation of Nigeria's anti-doping programme.

Ningi commended President Tinubu for increasing budgetary allocations to the sports sector, describing the administration's support as one of the most significant efforts to reposition sports as a tool for national development.

Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, described the inauguration as another milestone in the ongoing transformation of Nigeria's sports sector.

He said the development marked the beginning of a new era where integrity, accountability and sustainable sports development would define the country's sporting success.

Dikko described doping as a major threat to athletes, sports federations and Nigeria's international image, urging the Board to ensure full compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code while expanding anti-doping education across schools, youth competitions, training camps and sports federations.

He also called for the establishment of a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited laboratory in Nigeria to reduce testing costs, improve turnaround time and strengthen Africa's anti-doping capacity.

Earlier, Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, said the inauguration represented a significant step towards safeguarding the integrity of Nigerian sports and ensuring compliance with global anti-doping standards.

Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, assured Nigerians that the Board would discharge its duties with integrity and professionalism while faithfully implementing the provisions of the National Anti-Doping Act, 2025.

The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Anti-Doping Centre, Mainasara Illo, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for its support and pledged that the Centre would operate in line with World Anti-Doping Agency best practices.

The Technical Board is chaired by Alhaji Rasheed Olarenwaju Kazeem and includes Dr. Justine Chidi Okoroji Jnr., Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Gyaran, Pharm. Femi Ayorinde, Barrister Ben Okolo, Barrister Cynthia Aloke, retired Colonel Abbas Mohammed and Mainasara Illo, who serves as Executive Secretary and CEO.

Responding on behalf of the Board, Chairman Rasheed Kazeem assured Nigerians that members would faithfully discharge their statutory responsibilities and justify the confidence reposed in them by the Federal Government.