NOC trains medical professionals on athlete health in Benin

The Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC), with support from Olympic Solidarity, has launched a specialised Sports Medicine Seminar for female medical professionals aimed at improving healthcare delivery for female athletes in Nigeria.

The four day programme, which commenced in Benin City, Edo State, is focused on strengthening the knowledge and capacity of female healthcare practitioners on sports related health challenges affecting adolescent female athletes.

Held at the Media Centre of Binos Hotel and Suites, the seminar is bringing together female medics drawn from the South South and South East geopolitical zones of the country.

The programme is themed, “Fueling the Female Champion: Understanding the Female Athlete Triad and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) in the Adolescent Athlete.”

Strengthening sports medicine practice

Speaking at the opening ceremony, President of the Nigerian Olympic Committee, Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel, described the seminar as a pioneering initiative designed specifically for female medical professionals involved in athlete care and sports medicine.

According to him, the programme reflects the committee’s determination to improve healthcare support systems available to female athletes while equipping medical practitioners with up to date knowledge on issues that affect athletic performance and overall wellbeing.

He noted that the initiative is expected to deepen participants’ understanding of health conditions that are increasingly becoming a concern in female sports, particularly among adolescent athletes.

Gumel expressed appreciation to the International Olympic Committee through Olympic Solidarity for supporting the programme, saying the partnership demonstrates a shared commitment to athlete welfare, sports medicine education and the advancement of women in sports.

Focus on female athlete health

A major focus of the seminar is the Female Athlete Triad, a medical condition involving low energy availability, menstrual dysfunction and reduced bone density, which can negatively affect an athlete’s growth, health and sporting performance.

Participants are also being trained on Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), a broader condition linked to inadequate energy intake that can impair physical health, psychological wellbeing and competitive performance.

Sports medicine experts believe early identification and proper management of these conditions are critical to safeguarding the long term health and careers of female athletes.

The seminar therefore seeks to equip participants with practical knowledge and strategies for prevention, diagnosis and treatment within schools, sports academies and competitive sporting environments.

Expanding access across Nigeria

The NOC explained that the South South and South East regions were selected for the pilot programme to ensure wider geographical inclusion and increased access to sports medicine education.

The committee disclosed that similar capacity building programmes would be extended to other regions of the country in the future as part of efforts to strengthen sports healthcare nationwide.

Participants have been encouraged to actively engage in the sessions and share experiences that could contribute to improving athlete management and welfare within their respective organisations and communities.

Commitment to athlete welfare

The Nigerian Olympic Committee reaffirmed its commitment to promoting athlete health through education, research and strategic partnerships aimed at advancing sports medicine practice in Nigeria.

The committee noted that investing in the training of medical professionals remains essential to building a sustainable sports development system capable of supporting athletes from grassroots to elite levels.

Observers say the initiative aligns with global efforts to place athlete welfare at the centre of sports development while ensuring that female athletes receive specialised medical attention tailored to their unique physiological needs.