Former Athletics Federation of Nigeria technical director Omatseye Nesiama says Nigeria’s pipeline of young talent won’t translate to global medals without deliberate, long-term management.
Speaking on the future of the country’s emerging athletes, the retired Navy officer argued that raw ability alone rarely produces podium finishes. What’s missing, he said, is a structured system built on consistent planning and execution.
“The future is ahead of them and for them, but it must be driven by deliberate strategic management,” Nesiama said. He stressed that talent has to be nurtured inside a coordinated framework covering education, coaching, development, and welfare.
Nesiama pointed to Botswana as a model Nigeria once helped shape. He recalled how Botswana’s athletes were actively “packaged” to compete at Nigerian meets like the Warri Relays and national trials, gaining exposure that laid the foundation for their current success.
“Same happened to the Botswana team that we used to literally package and encourage to participate… Go back to what I said, strategic management,” he said.
Botswana has since become one of Africa’s most consistent track and field nations, while Nigeria’s senior success has been more sporadic despite producing promising juniors.
With the next Olympic cycle underway, Nesiama said the next four years are decisive. He urged administrators and stakeholders to treat athlete education, coaching quality, and welfare as non-negotiables in any plan.
“Meaning that their education, coaching, development and welfare in the next four years has to be deliberately planned and managed,” he said.
Nigeria continues to churn out young sprinters, jumpers, and distance runners at home and abroad. Nesiama’s message: turning that talent into sustained global results requires building the system before race day arrives.
