FEI Team Visits Nigeria to Support Equestrian Sports Bid

A team from the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI), which is the global body for equestrian sports, will visit Nigeria for four days from Monday, 28 September to Thursday, 1 October. This visit is part of Nigeria's effort to gain international recognition in equestrian sports.

The trip is crucial as it marks the last stage of Nigeria's application for FEI affiliation. The FEI General Assembly will soon consider Nigeria's application, according to the Nigeria Equestrian Federation (NEF).

During their stay, the FEI delegation will meet with important Nigerian sports organizations. This includes the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and the National Sports Commission (NSC). They will also inspect equestrian facilities and meet with other people involved in promoting and managing the sport.

The visit will allow the FEI to evaluate Nigeria’s governance and technical systems. They will look at how athletes and officials develop, as well as horse welfare, facilities, competitions, and anti-doping measures.

NEF President, Anthony Obiorah, called the visit a key moment for Nigerian equestrian sports. "The FEI visit is a very important milestone for Nigerian equestrian sport. It is part of the final stage of Nigeria’s FEI affiliation process, ahead of consideration of our application by the FEI General Assembly," Mr Obiorah stated.

He added, "For us, this is not simply about obtaining an international affiliation. It is about integrating Nigerian equestrian sport into the international system and ensuring that our governance, technical structures, athletes, officials, horse welfare, veterinary systems and competitions can operate to internationally recognised standards."

The FEI affiliation process looks at various areas like governance, finances, athlete and official training, coaching, horse welfare, and anti-doping systems.

Mr Obiorah also pointed out that Nigeria faces challenges, including infrastructure, funding, and access to specialized services. "Our challenges are similar to those faced by many developing sporting systems: infrastructure, funding, technical capacity and access to specialised services," he said.

He mentioned that the federation is working to improve training and competition facilities, veterinary support, and technical development. He emphasized that horse welfare is very important. "The horse is not equipment; the horse is an athlete and a partner," he said.

The federation is looking for more support from the government and private sector to improve infrastructure, youth development, veterinary services, and international participation. "Our message is very clear: we are asking for partnership, not dependency," Mr Obiorah said.

Vanessa Asuni, the federation’s vice president for Technical and Sports Development, said Nigeria needs a clear pathway to help talented riders move from local competitions to international levels. She explained that they are developing programs for riders, coaches, grooms, judges, stewards, and veterinarians.

"You cannot build an international equestrian programme without competent coaches, grooms, officials and veterinary professionals," Mrs Asuni said. She also mentioned Nigerian equestrians living abroad can help bring international experience to the sport here.

The federation aims to use schools, riding schools, youth programs, and talent discovery initiatives to make the sport more accessible to everyone, not just those in elite clubs. Mrs Asuni also noted that equestrian sports can create jobs in coaching, grooming, veterinary care, and event management.

If Nigeria gets FEI recognition, Mrs Asuni said the focus will be on increasing international participation and hosting FEI-sanctioned events in Nigeria. "Our immediate focus would be to strengthen the pathway from national competition to international participation," she said.

"We also want Nigeria to become a country that can host international equestrian sport, not simply participate in it." She believes hosting international events will help Nigerian riders meet global standards and create opportunities for businesses in the equestrian field.

The four-day visit will be a key assessment of Nigeria's readiness to complete the affiliation process and build a stronger link to international equestrian sports. "The FEI visit is a milestone, not the destination," Mr Obiorah said.

"Our ambition is to build an equestrian system that develops Nigerian talent, protects horses, creates economic opportunities and gives our athletes a credible pathway from grassroots participation to international competition."