Obasanjo to chair new Africa Sports Foundation, hosts CAA delegation in Abeokuta
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, on Monday led a high-level delegation of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) on a courtesy visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta.
The visit came ahead of the 3rd CAA U-18/U-20 African Athletics Championship, scheduled to take place in Abeokuta from July 16 to 20. The event is expected to attract key figures in African and global athletics to discuss the sport’s growth and development across the continent.
Chief Obasanjo expressed appreciation to the CAA for awarding the hosting rights to Nigeria and Ogun State, assuring them of a warm reception. “We have facilities and we have history,” he said. “Any friend of Africa is welcome in our state. We will cooperate, collaborate, and be the best host we can be.”
CAA President Hamad Kalkaba Malboum used the occasion to advocate for stronger, homegrown systems in African athletics, expressing concern over the need to rely on World Athletics for support due to internal administrative challenges. He called for sustainable, African-led solutions.
Malboum also announced the launch of the Africa Sports and Culture Development Foundation and revealed that Chief Obasanjo had been selected as one of its key pillars. He formally requested the former president to serve as Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees.
In response, Obasanjo accepted the honour and reaffirmed his belief in the power of sports and culture to drive societal change. “I support any initiative that promotes sports and cultural development—these are powerful tools for positive transformation,” he said.
President Malboum presented Obasanjo with a letter of cooperation and a special gift—an academic book written by a Cameroonian professor—donated to the presidential library.
The delegation included General Dahlan Al Hamad, President of Asian Athletics; Chief Tonobok Okowa, President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN); and other senior officials. The team sought Obasanjo’s support in promoting athletics development across Africa.
