The Fédération Équestre Internationale will start a four-day inspection of Nigeria’s equestrian facilities on Monday, September 28. The inspection will last until October 1 as the Nigeria Equestrian Federation seeks full affiliation with the global governing body.
This visit comes after the Nigeria Olympic Committee recognized the Nigeria Equestrian Federation as an Olympic sport federation. The Federation’s leaders called this recognition a historic moment for the organization.
Delegates will travel from Abuja to Lagos and then back to Abuja. They will inspect equestrian facilities in both cities and hold meetings with the Nigeria Olympic Committee and the National Sports Commission.
Dr Anthony Obiorah, the President of the Nigeria Equestrian Federation, said this recognition strengthens their position in Nigeria’s sports sector. He pointed out that this is just the beginning of their work.
“The recognition by the Nigeria Olympic Committee is a very significant institutional milestone for Nigerian equestrian sport. It gives greater clarity to the Federation’s position within Nigeria’s organised sporting structure and strengthens our ability to engage formally with national sports institutions and international sporting bodies,” Obiorah told Saturday PUNCH.
He added that equestrian sport is an Olympic sport. The bond between a National Federation and its National Olympic Committee is a key part of the international sports system. But to them, recognition is not the final goal. It is a starting point to create real development for athletes, coaches, officials, clubs, and the whole equestrian community.
Obiorah mentioned that the Federation is nearing the end of the affiliation process with the global body. He said the upcoming inspection is vital for this effort.
“Our current affiliation process is a good example. The world body has a formal process through which a National Federation shows it meets the membership requirements. This affiliation can provide access to international events, development programmes, and other opportunities,” he explained.
He listed key priorities for the Federation going forward. These include institutional strengthening, international integration, athlete development, technical growth, horse welfare, and building partnerships. He also acknowledged that funding, facilities, technical skills, and grassroots participation are major challenges.
“The biggest challenge is moving from recognition to real action. We need sustainable funding, good facilities, better technical skills, qualified coaches and officials, wider grassroots participation, and strong horse welfare and veterinary systems,” he said.
Vanessa Asuni, the Vice-President of the Federation, said their immediate goal is to turn this recognition into a working international pathway for Nigerian riders.
“The immediate objective is to turn this opportunity into a functioning international pathway for Nigerian equestrian sport. In the short term, we want to strengthen our governance and technical systems, set clear paths for certification and development for riders, coaches, grooms, and officials, improve veterinary and horse welfare systems, build our national competition calendar, and create more chances for Nigerian athletes to gain international experience,” Asuni told Saturday PUNCH.
She added that the Federation wants to start identifying riders who can compete at the highest level and help them grow through organized high-performance programmes.
The Federation thanked Shehu Dikko, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, and Habu Ahmed Gumel, the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, for their support in getting this recognition.
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