APA – Lagos (Nigeria)
The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) has appointed a six-man Constitution Review Committee.
The committee, inaugurated on Friday, February 9, 2024 in Abuja is charged with reviewing and updating the 23-year-old Constitution of the NOC, which had been in operation since 2001.
The NOC Constitution serves as a guiding document for the committee’s day-to-day operations and outlines the executive activities of the NOC, which include the presidents of all Olympic sports and partners such as the Federal Government of Nigeria and sponsors.
According to the statement released by Tony Nezianya, Public Relations Officer of the NOC, the Constitution review exercise is seen as a fundamental requirement for good governance and best practices, especially within the Olympic Movement circles.
The statement added that the committee members were reminded that the Constitution is available to them as a guide and that it must be adapted to meet the demands of emerging trends in sports and the Olympic Movement.
The members of the committee include the Chairman, Mr. Hussaini Garun-Gabas, Mr Babatunde Fatayi-Williams, Prof. Mariam Suleiman, Mr Emmanuel Agwu, Mr Tunde Kareem and Mr Emmanuel Nweri.
Speaking at the inauguration, the President of the NOC, Engr. Ahmed Gumel, emphasized that the selection of the committee members was based solely on merit.
He acknowledged their competence, vast experience in legal matters and their contributions to sports and general administration.
The inauguration of the Constitution Review Committee, according to the NOC, marks an important step for the NOC in ensuring effective governance and keeping up with the evolving landscape of sports and the Olympic Movement in Nigeria.
It added that through this review, the committee aims to strengthen the NOC’s mission and vision and enhance its ability to support and promote Nigerian athletes on the international stage.
The terms of reference include accessing the potency or impact of the NOC as currently in force since 2001 and making recommendations for amendment, where necessary.
”You are to request major stakeholders in the Olympic Family, indeed only the Olympic Sports, to submit Memoranda on their contributions to the proposed amendment.
More importantly, the NOC, which is also an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member said: ”Your Committee is to produce and submit a draft copy of a Constitution in review to the President of the NOC for onward transmission to the Executive Committee, Executive Board, the GE Assembly and the IOC.
The Committee members are expected to turn in their review the on or before August 30, 2024.
Responding, the Chairman of the committee, Garun-Gabbas, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN), assured that the committee would deliver on its mandate by engaging necessary stakeholders.
The Secretary-General of the NOC, Mr. Tunde Popoola, in his remarks, hailed the Committee members for the high level of trust and confidence reposed in them for the assignment.
GIK/.APA