AFN's Grassroots Development Praised Ahead of Commonwealth Trials

Bukola Olopade, the Director General of the National Sports Commission, commended the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) for its dedication to grassroots development in athletics. Speaking at the 2026 Commonwealth Games trials held at the Yaba College of Technology in Lagos, Olopade highlighted the successful outcomes of the AFN's initiatives, which have allowed school children to represent Nigeria at international competitions, a significant change from two decades ago.

He mentioned that five female athletes qualified for the women's 5,000 meters event, with notable performances including Vivian Obadiah from Delta State, who led with a time of 17:24.85. Olopade also addressed challenges faced by foreign-based athletes regarding visa issues, expressing hope that the AFN leadership would secure waivers to facilitate their participation.

Akuchukwu Aghazu, AFN's second vice president, expressed excitement over the athletes' achievements, emphasizing the importance of such opportunities for inspiring future success.