NOC President Declares Olympic Solidarity Sports Medicine Seminar Open
By Lekan Sowande, Abuja.
The President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Habu Ahmed Gumel, declared open the NOC/Olympic Solidarity Sports Medicine Seminar at the Media Centre of the National Stadium Complex in Surulere, Lagos State.
Gumel, who was represented by NOC Public Relation Officer Phemmy Adetula, enjoined participants to take cognisance of topical issues which will be extensively addressed by guest speakers as it affects the growth and health of athletes and development of the sport.
Adetula said the theme, “Promote and Protect The Integrity of Sports and Health of Athletes”, is something athletes, coaches and administrators should be aware of because it has become a big challenge and a recurring decimal in our sporting events.
“As we approach the National Sports Festival in Delta State in the next couple of days, I urge all the participants to listen attentively to our eminent speakers and learn valuable lessons from their wealth of experience which will propel our sports in the right path,” Adetula added.
NOC Chairman, Medical and Scientific Commission, Dr Festus Oshoba in his speech welcomed all participants both online and physical to the seminar and harped on the need for information and knowledge about sports medicine to be propagated among athletes and major stakeholders.
He thereafter introduced the speakers such as Dr Akin Amao, Prof Ken Anugweje, Dr Akin George, Dr Sam Ogbondeminu. Others are Dr Bukola Bojuwoye, Olumide Oyedeji, Dr Paul Onyeudo, Dr Bakare Ummukulthoum, Prof Ade-Akingboye amongst others.
Highlighting the need to create more awareness during the seminar, Dr Akin Amao emphasized on the need for concerted effort to train coaches and technical personnel in order to impact the right principle on athletes.
“Some athletes don’t have the information and education about drugs as it pertains to their health, so we need to improve on that aspect so that as they train they are told about certain things that should not be taken when they compete,” Dr Amao said.
“These substances are not just performance enhancing drugs, they are also detrimental to their health.”
The 3 day seminar which commenced on Tuesday 22nd will run till Thursday 24th November, 2022.
