The First Vice President and Technical Director, team Nigeria, Coach Gabriel Okon, has been selected alongside, quartermiler, Imaobong Uko for the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Coach Okon, a native of Itu Local Government Area, has provided his wealth of experience behind the scenes to ensure that Akwa Ibom State is at the forefront of Athletics in Nigeria in the past years, and will be among the Team Nigeria’s Athletics coaching crew.

He is one of the Coaches that has propelled Imaobong to this world class level.

Imaobong Uko, will compete in her first Olympics, after making the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) 25-person (15 Females and 10 Males) squad for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Uko, 17, was part of the 4 x 400m mixed relay team that emerged victorious at the Prairie View A&M University invitational athletics meet in Texas, USA, in May 2021, in a national record time of 3:18:53.

Uko alongside Nathaniel Samson, Patience Okon-George and Chidi Okezie won the Paga/MOC Relays 4x400m mixed event in Lagos on June 27, in a new National Record of 3:14.09 to secure Tokyo 2020 Olympics qualification, after the team placed 16th Overall in World Athletics ranking.

The Akwa Ibom state athlete took the national athletics scene by storm, after winning the women’s 400m Gold medal at the Abuja 2018 National Sports Festival. She retained her title at the rescheduled Edo 2020 National Sports Festival, with a new Personal Best of 51.70s, in April 2021.

Coach Okon and Imaobong Uko are currently at the Team Nigeria Athletics preparatory camp in Abuja, alongside other selected athletes and coaches, and will depart for the final training camp in Japan on Tuesday, July 13.

AFN Ratified Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Qualified Athletes and Events

Female

1. Blessing Okagbare – 100m, 200m 4×100m Relay
2. Grace Nwokocha – 100m, 200m
3. Rosemary Chukwuma – 100m
4. Favour Ofili – 200m
5. Tobiloba Amusan – 100m Hurdles
   6 . Ese Brume – Long Jump
6. Ruth Usoro – Triple Jump
7. Annette Echikunwoke – Hammer
8. Knowledge Omovoh – 4 x 100m Relay
9. Tima Godbless (Alternate) – 4 x 100m Relay, 4 x 400m Mixed Relay
10. Chioma Onyekwere – Discus
11. Patience Okon-George – 400m
12. Imaobong Nse Uko – 4 x 400m Mixed Relay
13. Glory Okon Patrick – 4 x 400m Mixed Relay
14. Yinka Ajayi – 4 x 400m Mixed Relay

Male

1. Divine Oduduru – 100m, 200m, 4x100m Relay
2. Seye Ogunlewe – 100m, 4 x 100m Relay
3. Enoch Adegoke – 100m, 4 x 100m Relay
4. Usheoritse Itsekiri – 100m, 4 x 100m Relay
5. Chukwuebuka Enekwechi – Shot Put
6. Chidi Okezie – 4 x 400m Mixed Relay
7. Samson Nathaniel – 4 x 400m Mixed Relay
8. Ifeanyi Ojeli – 4 x 400m Mixed Relay
9. Godson Oghenebrume – 4 x 100m
10. Jerry Jakpa – 4 x 100m

Coaches

1. Rotimi Obajimi
2. Kayode Yaya
3. Gabriel Okon
4. Opuana Gabriel
5. George Obiano
6. Prof Ken Anugweje (Sports Scientist)

Imaobong Koffi-Bassey