Former national 400m hurdles champion and Olympian Henry Amike has called for greater investment in athletics, athletes' welfare, training, and competitions to restore Nigeria's competitiveness in track and field events. Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, Amike expressed disappointment with the pace of development in Nigerian athletics, which he said has fallen short of expectations despite the achievements of previous generations.
"We expected that after we left the scene, people would take over immediately, but it has taken almost 40 years before things like this are coming up. We are not happy with what we have seen in Nigerian track and field," he stated.
Amike emphasized that the technical expertise and experience of former athletes could significantly contribute to policy formulation and institutional reforms within the sector.
Amike's Legacy in Athletics
Henry Amike, one of Nigeria's most accomplished track and field athletes, represented the country at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, competing in the 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay events. His most notable international achievement came at the 1987 World Championships in Rome, where he became the first Nigerian athlete to qualify for the final of the men's 400m hurdles. His personal best of 48.50 seconds stood as Nigeria's national record for 35 years until it was broken in 2022.
Amike also won medals at continental competitions and was widely regarded as one of Africa's leading hurdlers during the 1980s, contributing to Nigeria's growing profile in international athletics.
Political Ambitions
Amike, who served as a legislative assistant to the speaker of the House of Representatives, has confirmed his intention to contest the Lagos West Senatorial District seat in 2027. According to him, his political agenda will focus on youth empowerment, sports development, education, and broader socio-economic issues affecting residents of the senatorial district.
He reiterated that the current state of Nigerian athletics requires urgent attention, and he hopes to use his experience to drive positive change both on and off the track.
