The President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Tonobok Okowa, has confirmed that official kit sponsor HiRacer remains committed to fulfilling its $20,000 cash reward pledge to Tobi Amusan for her silver medal performance at the ongoing 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Speaking through a statement issued by Maxwell Kumoye, Chairman of the AFN Media Committee, Okowa emphasized the Federation’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of its athletes.
During a Monday night meeting in Tokyo with Amusan and the Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Chief Bukola Olopade, Okowa made it clear that there was no personal discord between himself and the 100m hurdles world record holder. He described Amusan as a valuable asset to Nigerian athletics and attributed the recent kit-related controversy to a simple misunderstanding, which he says has now been fully resolved.
He reiterated that HiRacer remains prepared to honor its financial commitment and disclosed that talks are already at an advanced stage regarding an enhanced sponsorship arrangement with the kit supplier.
“There is no problem between Tobi and the Federation. I have worked with her for more than four years. It was just a moment of misunderstanding. This new AFN board is responsive to our athletes’ needs. We will do things differently,” Okowa stated.
He also took the opportunity to applaud Amusan’s fighting spirit, describing her silver medal achievement in the 100m hurdles final as “a moment of pride for Team Nigeria.”
In the same vein, Okowa extended gratitude to both the Director-General, Honorable Bukola Olopade, and the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, for their roles in ensuring the prompt payment of allowances and bonuses to athletes in Tokyo.
