Favour Ofili Still Committed to Nigeria, Says NSC Director General

Favour Ofili Still Committed to Nigeria, Says NSC Director General

By Niyi Busari 

 The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has reaffirmed that Favour Ofili remains a Nigerian athlete, dispelling recent speculation about her purported switch of allegiance to Turkey, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Speaking at the World Press Conference for the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) U18 and U20 Championships in Abuja, Olopade—who also serves as Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC)—categorically stated that there is no official confirmation of any nationality change for the elite sprinter. “Favour Ofili is still representing Nigeria. She wrote to the NSC two months ago, reaffirming her commitment to compete for Nigeria,” Olopade said. When I resumed as DG of NSC I called her personally and she confirmed her allegiance to Nigeria.

The NSC DG further revealed that Ofili is one of 69 athletes who received financial grants from the commission in April 2025, underlining her active participation in national development programs.

 “There has been no official communication from any international federation or national body indicating that she has switched allegiance. As far as the NSC is concerned, she remains a Nigerian athlete,” Olopade added.

The statement comes amid circulating reports suggesting that Ofili, a multiple-time national champion and international medalist, was in the process of transferring her allegiance to Turkey—a claim the NSC has firmly denied.