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FG Inaugurates Nigeria Anti-Doping Centre Board to Strengthen Integrity in Sports
The Federal Government has inaugurated the Technical Board of the Nigeria Anti-Doping Centre (NADC), reinforcing its commitment to promoting integrity, fairness and excellence in sports in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The inauguration ceremony, held on Thursday in Abuja, marked a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen its anti-doping framework and restore confidence in the country’s sporting system.
Speaking at the event, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, described the inauguration as a defining moment for Nigerian sports, noting that the country had moved “from commitment to structure, from policy to action, and from internal management to a fully constituted, independent and law-backed institution.”
Akume explained that the development followed the enactment of the National Anti-Doping Act, 2025, which established the Nigeria Anti-Doping Centre as a statutory body empowered to implement Nigeria’s anti-doping obligations in line with the World Anti-Doping Code.
He acknowledged that Nigeria’s sporting image had suffered setbacks due to doping violations over the years, stressing that the establishment of the Centre and its Technical Board reflects the Federal Government’s determination to protect the integrity and credibility of Nigerian sports.
The SGF urged members of the newly inaugurated board to view their appointments as a call to national service, emphasizing the need for professionalism, independence and accountability in carrying out their responsibilities.
According to him, the Board will focus on educating athletes and stakeholders, preventing doping violations, protecting clean athletes and enforcing anti-doping regulations. He also encouraged members to expand anti-doping education beyond elite competitions to schools, sports academies, community clubs and grassroots sports programmes across the country.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports Development, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi, congratulated the board members and assured them of continued legislative support for the successful implementation of Nigeria’s anti-doping programme.
He commended President Tinubu for giving unprecedented attention to sports development, noting that increased funding for the sector demonstrates the administration’s commitment to repositioning sports as a strategic tool for national development.
Also speaking, Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, described the inauguration as another milestone in the ongoing reforms of Nigeria’s sports sector. He said the Technical Board would play a critical role in promoting accountability, protecting clean athletes and strengthening the country’s global sporting reputation.
Dikko also advocated for the establishment of a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited laboratory in Nigeria, saying such a facility would reduce testing costs, shorten result turnaround time, strengthen Africa’s anti-doping capacity and generate foreign exchange through regional services.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, said the inauguration demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to safeguarding the integrity of sports, protecting Nigerian athletes and ensuring compliance with international anti-doping standards.
Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, assured the Federal Government that the Board would carry out its mandate with professionalism and integrity while ensuring full implementation of the National Anti-Doping Act, 2025, and compliance with global anti-doping regulations.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the National Assembly, the National Sports Commission, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and other stakeholders in establishing the Nigeria Anti-Doping Centre, describing the inauguration as a historic achievement for Nigerian sports.
Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Anti-Doping Centre, Mainasara Illo, thanked the Federal Government for its support and pledged that the Centre would discharge its statutory responsibilities in line with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) best practices.
The Technical Board is chaired by Alhaji Hon. Barrister Rasheed Olarenwaju Kazeem, with Dr. Justine Chidi Okoroji Jnr., Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Gyaran, MON, Pharm. Femi Ayorinde, Barrister Ben Okolo, Barrister Mrs. Cynthia N. Aloke, Colonel Abbas Mohammed (Rtd) and Mainasara Illo serving as members.
Responding on behalf of the Board, Chairman Rasheed Olarenwaju Kazeem expressed appreciation for the confidence reposed in the members and pledged their commitment to faithfully carrying out the Centre’s statutory mandate while advancing integrity and excellence in Nigerian sports.
