AFN cautions athletes over risky scholarship deals

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has issued a warning to Nigerian athletes and their families regarding scholarship agreements, urging them to carefully read the terms before signing any contracts. AFN President Tonobok Okowa emphasized that certain deals could be harmful to athletes' education, careers, and long-term prospects.

The federation is actively monitoring such agreements and will intervene if they prove detrimental to the athlete or Nigeria's interests. Reports suggest that an agency has been tying down athletes with five-year contracts, retaining 25% of their earnings. AFN President Okowa, also a Senior Vice President of the Confederation of African Athletics, stressed that the federation's primary concern is the welfare of athletes and that the AFN has not entered into any agreements with agents or agencies to provide scholarships.

Athletes under the age of majority should not enter into agreements without their parents' or legal guardians' consent. The AFN has already advised an athlete to terminate an unfavorable agreement involving an agent and a school. Okowa directed the AFN's Second Vice President, Akuchukwu Aghazu, a lawyer, to evaluate the circumstances of another athlete's contract.

The federation encourages athletes and their families to seek professional advice before signing any agreements and assured them that the AFN will continue to safeguard their interests while ensuring that opportunities presented to Nigerian athletes positively impact their development.