After 27 days of stiff competition at the London Olympics
that ended yesterday, Nigeria lost out in all registered events. Out of the 200
countries that participated, 85, including 10 African countries won a total of
962 medals, leaving Nigeria and the rest without a consolatory medal.

Unfortunately, Nigeria’s dismal outing did not come as a
surprise. In fact, not a few Nigerians were impressed with Team Nigeria or
expected much from the over-40 contingent as the games progressed.  The reasons were obvious; four years after
the poor outing at the Beijing Olympics in china where Nigeria won only four medals,
expectations were that preparations for the 2012 London games would be without
blemish.

But that was not to
be. Instead in the last few months preceding the event the nation witnessed the
usual fire-brigade and haphazard approach that turned out to be a disgrace and
woeful Olympic performance for a country of about 160 million people.

We are particularly shocked that in the London Olympic Games
many athletes in their teens won medals for their countries while our much
older renowned sports men and women had nothing to offer. That has sufficiently
humiliated us and deflated our psyche as giant of Africa.

But if the truth must be told these young champions were not
unduly favoured to win in their various events if not by dint of hard-work.
Many of them had been enrolled in their countries’ sports academy for years
before major international competitions. They received training like
professionals and the scheme not only offered them the opportunity to succeed
but elicited their commitment to excel.

That explains why countries with fewer populations like
Great Britain, Russia, France, Germany, South Korea, South Africa, Italy,
Australia and others could produce better athletes than Nigeria.

But until we learn from our shortlived national
mortification, we may not tap the potentials that abound in many Nigerian
youths.

It is unfortunate that since 1985 when Mary Onyali was
discovered from the National Sport Festival
held in Kwara State and others like Chidi Imo and Innocent Egbunike, no
deliberate attempt had been made for talent discovery and development. Still,
every year different states of the federation expend huge sums of money
organising various sports events that spring up champions often from host
states but whose capabilities remain questionable.

That simply explains why we are not considered competitive
enough outside the shores of Nigeria. Rather than promote excellence through
these sports programmes the organisers utilise the opportunities to enrich
themselves and wait for another time. Such attitude, no doubt, generates societal
anomie which unfortunately, permeates all strata of our sporting activities and
beyond. Nigerians are more interested in cutting corners to the top instead of
craving for the best.

But we are worried because of its consequence, a
long-lasting disconnect between the citizens and the nation. There is total
lack of patriotism and spirit of nationhood among many Nigerian talented youths
who prefer to ply their trade with other countries.

For instance, more than 10 Nigerians represented Great
Britain and won medals in the just- concluded Olympic Games, and many more for
other countries. But would they have achieved that feat if they had represented
Nigeria? Certainly not. That means our system is faulty and should be urgently
addressed.

Until we get our acts right, especially in sports
administration, we may continue brooding over the national humiliation that was
the London Olympics, without adequate preparation till the next Olympics in
2016.

If Nigeria must spent over N2 billion few months to Olympic
Games without success, we should be able to commit such fund early enough to
include provision of facilities and talent hunt. No doubt, the nation is
endowed with more human resources than have been harnessed.

The federal government should embark on total overhaul of
Team Nigeria, including the coaching crew to give opportunity to fresh talents.
The time to start is now.