President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Tonobok Okowa, has described the recent decision by World Athletics as a major victory for countries investing heavily in athlete development.
Reacting to the ruling that blocked nationality switches for several athletes, Okowa emphasized that the decision addresses a long-standing concern among developing nations.
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“It’s a big win,” he said.
According to him, countries like Nigeria spend years identifying, nurturing, and supporting athletes, only to risk losing them to wealthier nations offering better financial incentives.
“It was discouraging,” he implied.
Okowa noted that such practices undermine the efforts of federations that invest limited resources into building talent from grassroots to elite levels.
“We put in the work,” he added.
For the AFN president, the new stance by World Athletics sends a clear message that the integrity of the sport must be protected.
“This will change things,” he stressed.
He believes the ruling will help restore fairness and encourage countries to continue investing in their athletes without fear of losing them at their peak.
“It gives us confidence,” he noted.
The decision has sparked widespread reactions across the athletics community, with many stakeholders viewing it as a necessary step toward maintaining balance in global competition.
As the situation evolves, the focus will now be on how athletes and federations adapt to the new framework.
For Okowa, however, the message is clear.
Protect your athletes.
Protect your investment.
Because in sport, development must be respected — not exploited.
