AFN, MOBIL in crucial talk

The Exxon Mobil Executive Director, Udom Inoyo confirmed in a chat with nigeriasports.com in Abuja that Mobil during the 2002 edition of the championship indicated its withdrawal from further sponsorship of the Mobil Track and Field Championship, which since inception has been providing AFN the ample opportunity of selecting the country’s athletes to major international engagements.

Inoyo said Mobil gave AFN four-year notice starting from the year 2002.

But the Exxon Mobil said talks are being held with both Executive members of the AFN and top functionary of the Sports Ministry on way forward in the sponsorship programme.

“Mobil would want a solid process to ensure that whatsoever contribution is made is going to the athletes actually get to them. That also is a way to encourage participation”, Inoyo said on Saturday soon after the 15th edition of the trial selection championship at the Abuja National Stadium.

In the previous past, athletes have alleged gross misappropriation of fund provided by Mobil for the sponsorship of the Trial Selection Track and field championship, and had at one time threatened to boycott the championship.

It was learnt that soon after Saturday’s championship, AFN Board members went into a meeting with the Executive members of Mobil together with the Sports Minister, colonel Musa Muhammed to fashion out a way forward in the continue sponsorship of the championship. The outcome of the meeting however has not been made open.

The AFN Secretary general, Dr Simon Ebhojaye when contacted on his cell phone on Saturday evening said the meeting was still in progress.

Report by Fidelis Ebu in Abuja