Hammed vows to bring back trust in Nigerian Judo

Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the Nigeria Judo Federation, Sheriff Hammed, has promised to rebuild trust among stakeholders in the sport. He praised the National Sports Commission and its Director-General, Bukola Olopade, for stepping in to resolve the federation’s long-standing leadership issues. This was shared in a statement from the committee on Saturday.

The National Sports Commission approved the six-member committee on Friday. This came after the International Judo Federation dissolved the federation’s board. The approval was made under Section 16 of the National Sports Commission Act, 2023. Kola Daniel, Special Assistant on Media in the Office of the Director General of the commission, signed the statement on October 9. The committee will act as a transitional body until new elections form a new board.

The committee members include Ekuta Ewa, Sule Musa, Bashir Musa Bassey, Oladipupo Idowu, and Amayo Ngozi as Secretary.

After the inauguration, the Caretaker Committee issued a statement. They credited the commission for taking action promptly. "I sincerely appreciate the leadership of the National Sports Commission for taking decisive responsibility in addressing the long-standing crisis in Nigerian Judo and for entrusting me and members of the Caretaker Committee with the responsibility of restoring stability, credibility and progress to the Nigeria Judo Federation," Hammed said.

Hammed mentioned that this responsibility is serious. He said, "We understand the magnitude of the task before us and remain committed to doing the right thing by following due process, engaging genuine stakeholders and placing the interests of Nigerian Judo above all personal or sectional considerations."

He believes judo can show how a sport can recover from a deep crisis. He noted that other sports also have similar issues. "The challenges confronting the sport are not unique, as other sports, including gymnastics, basketball and kickboxing, are experiencing similar governance and administrative difficulties. What is important is the willingness to confront these challenges honestly and establish sustainable systems for the future," he said.

Hammed added, "Our mandate is clear: to reform Judo, restore confidence, strengthen governance, develop athletes and technical officials, and ultimately return Nigerian Judo to its rightful place."

The commission has instructed the committee to change the federation’s constitution to meet the International Judo Federation’s standards. They must hold an Annual General Meeting to approve it and then organize elections. After this, they will hand over to the elected board. The commission urged the members to work diligently, transparently, and impartially.

The federation’s issues are well known. Still, the sport had a proud moment in 2026 when Enku Ekuta won bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. This was Nigeria’s first judo medal there since 2002.

Hammed also expressed gratitude to the Inspector-General of Police for his support. "As a true judoka who appreciates the values, discipline and spirit of Judo, his commitment to the growth of the sport is deeply appreciated," he said. He called on judokas, clubs, coaches, athletes, and officials to join the rebuilding effort. He promised transparency, fairness, discipline, and accountability.