By Micah Jonah, March 4, 2026
The International Olympic Committee has partnered with the Nigerian Olympic Committee to organize an advanced gender inclusive governance course in Abuja as part of efforts to strengthen women’s leadership and institutional reform in Nigerian sport.
The three day programme, supported by Olympic Solidarity, is scheduled to hold from March 23 to March 25 at the Media Centre, Package B, Moshood Abiola National Stadium.
According to the NOC, the course is targeted at former female athletes and women currently serving on the boards of national sports federations. It is designed to improve governance standards, increase female representation in decision making positions across the sports sector.
The initiative forms part of ongoing reforms aimed at aligning Nigeria’s sports administration with global best practices. The NOC stated that the programme reflects its commitment to building transparent, accountable and inclusive systems capable of driving long term development.
President of the NOC, Habu Gumel, will declare the course open. He emphasized that sustainable growth in sports depends on credible and inclusive leadership structures.
He said investing in the capacity of women leaders would strengthen governance, improve compliance with international standards and reinforce the foundation for sustainable sports development in the country.
The curriculum will be delivered under the IOC global educational framework using the IOC Sports Administration Course manual. Participants will receive internationally recognised training covering governance reform, strategic planning, financial oversight, organisational accountability, ethical leadership, safeguarding principles, policy implementation and institutional management.
Beyond classroom sessions, the programme is also expected to provide mentorship opportunities and encourage peer collaboration. Organizers say the goal is to nurture a new generation of women-leaders capable of influencing policy, improving institutional effectiveness and driving strategic progress within their federations.
The Nigerian Olympic Committee reaffirmed its resolve to align national sports governance with evolving international benchmarks and to work closely with government agencies and other stakeholders to improve board diversity and overall leadership performance in the sector.
