Kwara State participants shine at NOC Olympic solidarity sports medicine seminar in Lagos
Kwara State participants shine at NOC Olympic solidarity sports medicine seminar in Lagos
Promoting and protecting the Integrity of Sports and Health of Athletes was the theme of the three days seminar organized by the Nigeria Olympic Medical and scientific commission in conjunction with the Olympic Solidarity.
The high level workshop which was held at the Media Center of the National Stadium, Surulere Lagos, attracted experts in the sports industry particularly academicians from selected Universities who functioned as resource persons.
There is no debating the fact that the topic was apt and relevant to the challenges by the athletes and officials in all sectors. It was indeed an age opener for the participants from Kwara State numbering seventeen with eleven members politically in attendance while six others including the publisher of Sportspro News Bayour Issah featured via zoom.
APFAN, Association of Football Academies of Nigeria, Kwara state chapter under the leadership of highly resourceful administrator and grassroots mobiliser in Talent development Bello-Lasoro Abubakar Ola became the cynosure of all eyes at the event with their comportment, organization and intellectual discuss which drew applause from the participants.
Among the egg heads at the colorful ceremony were Dr Festus Oshoba Odunayo the chairman of NOC Medical Commission the Super Eagles team doctor for decades, and Sports Medicine expert, Dr Akin Amao; Professor Ken Anugweje a specialist in Dietary; Professor Leah Funmiloyo Dominic from the human Kinetics Department University of Ilorin and Dr Bakare Ummukultoum, a former basketballer who spoke on Injury and Prevention to light up the event with their colorful presentation.
While the likes of Dr Folajaiye Kareem enumerated the need to be conscious on mental health, He observed in his paper titled IOC Consensus Statement on Mental Health in Elite Athletes delved more on clinical psychology on Athletes. Equally at the seminar to discuss Epidemiological Data on Injury and Illness in Sports, Dr Adebola Olajide was at his best, drawing attention of the participants to prevent injuries in any form of Sports.
Other speakers include Dr Paul Onyendu who talked about responsibilities of Athletes in their wellbeing while Tobi Janet, a Nutritionist gave hints on consumables as an Athlete. Dr Sam Ogbondeminu shared to the participant on Covid 19, Dr Akin George reminded the participants on supplement required to optimize performance in line with anti-doping policy.
Olumide Oyedeji, NOC Athletes Commission Chairman, former Basketballer and Olympian emphasized the need for athletes to shun all vices that will be an impediment to their progress. He added that to be clean in all sports is to follow the WADA codes. Dr Opemipo Ade-Akingboye shared with the participant’s responsibility of Athletes and Support Personnel.
Ngozi Nnenna Dike complimented the lecture on Injury Prevention particularly on Do's and Don'ts of the muscular injury management and crown it all, Ada Nwachukwu raised the need for female Athletes to be given right training because of the complexities and care of femine needs in sports.
The seminar gave the participants the window of opportunity to interact, address issues and proffer solutions to existing and non-existing sports challenges to meet the global standard in sports.
For kwara participants, it was quite revealing and result oriented outing. It commended the Kwara state Football Academies Forum (FAF) Directors, Coaches, and other stakeholder in football Athletes development (Red Cross Society & Media) led by Bello-Lasoro Abubakar Olalekan, Director Lasora Sports Consultancy Agency.
While also lauding the NOC led by Abu Gumel for the initiative, the Kwara APFAN also applauded the engine room of the secretariat Deborah Chidobi who coordinated the program as it hope that the new knowledge acquired at the seminar will be distributed to all and sundry as a potent weapon to drive sports to the promise land.
Other participants from Kwara includes;
✓Abdulkadir Shuaib Olatunji- Kwara Football Academy
✓Sarafadeen Olalekan Oyeleke -Kwara Amputee football
✓Folorunsho Basheer Sakariyah -Bashmed FA and Management
✓Fadiran Mayowa- Laderin United FC
✓Modupeola Abigael Matthew-Wining Stars Sporting Academy
✓Abdulfatah Oluwatobiloba -Habiba Football Academy
✓Ibrahim Olatunji Alanamu- Kwara Red Cross Society
✓Jimoh Abdulganiyu S -Kwara Red Cross Society
✓Adeyeye Yusuf H- Unity Soccer FA
✓Abubakar Olododo Yakubu- Kwara Football Academy
✓Akande Fatai Adejumo Smith- Dannaz Sports
✓Oladapo Emmanuel- Spring Soca Sports
✓Adeyemo Phillip- W2yw Sports Academy
✓Bayour Issah-Sportpro International
Samuel Elijah (MON)-Kwara football Academy.
Meanwhile, the second round of the APFAN Kwara league will commence on Wednesday, November 30. All the participating six teams will swing back to action across match centres as they set sights on the ultimate prize.
