Acting President of the Nigeria Football Referees Association (NFRA), Kelechi Mejuobi, has highlighted ongoing efforts to develop Nigerian referees through the FIFA Member Association Course currently taking place at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
Speaking on NTA AM Sports, Mejuobi said the programme is designed to equip young referees and beach soccer officials with the skills required to officiate at higher levels.
"It is a sign that if any referee appears on the field of play to officiate, he has proper training. And this is a FIFA member Association course for a young talent referee and the beach soccer referee. For the younger referees who have obtained their grade 1, officiating at the low kada leagues like the NLO, NNL and women's league.
"Now the Nigerian Football Referee Association and the Nigerian Football Federation are working to develop the referees. This is a program package by FIFA through the Nigerian football federation, so our members are taking part in the exercise, and it is meant as a capacity-building workshop."
Mejuobi stressed the importance of physical and medical fitness in referee development.
"After the physical fitness test, you will be satisfied by the medical doctors that you are fit to take part. These are the processes before we come to the classroom work and fieldwork. There are stages of training."
He explained that FIFA-appointed experts are overseeing the programme.
"There are International physical fitness instructors on ground sent by FIFA to moderate, (1) the physical fitness test. (2) the physical fitness during fieldwork."
The NFRA chief also pointed to the standards expected at international competitions, referencing Nigerian officials invited for the Women's Africa Cup of Nations preparations.
"I heard of the WAFCON, two Nigerian women referees have been invited to take part in the pre-competition preparation. What will they be doing? They will take part in this fitness test. We incorporated ourselves into the international standard expected of referees."
On health concerns such as malaria and high blood pressure, Mejuobi said referees had been informed well in advance to prepare for the course. He added that participants facing medical challenges are allowed to withdraw to avoid health risks.
Discussing the purpose of the young talent programme, he said:
"The young talent course is a foundation course to launch a referee to greater heights. We are not talking about badges now, these are not the FIFA referees. For the FIFA referees, we will talk about badges when you have a premistic exercise."
According to Mejuobi, participants who fail to meet the required standards will not progress through the programme, while successful candidates could advance to elite-level officiating.
He noted that outstanding referees identified by the young talent training committee and FIFA fitness instructors could be promoted to the Nigeria Premier Football League elite referees' category and may eventually be considered for FIFA listing exercises.
The course also includes classroom sessions focused on the Laws of the Game and recent amendments approved by football's lawmakers.
Mejuobi said game management remains a major component of referee education, particularly in Nigeria's football environment.
"That is why we talk about game management the laws of the game shouldn't be disrupted in the course of officiating. But at the same time, we talk about game management, and we know the Nigeria Factor. The referee must be confident and know the laws of the game and also apply them at the right time."
He explained that correct and consistent decision-making helps build public trust in officiating, citing handball decisions as an example.
The acting NFRA president also acknowledged security concerns at match venues, saying the association has engaged relevant authorities to improve safety for referees.
Mejuobi further revealed that an elite course for top referees is being planned to update officials on recent changes to the Laws of the Game.
Addressing the recurring debate over Nigeria's absence from recent FIFA World Cup referee appointments, he said attention should be focused on solutions rather than complaints.
"The question has gone beyond why we didn't have any Nigerian referee in the World Cup. The question should be what are we doing?
"And that is the reason why we, as a body, set up a committee to look at it. And the committee has submitted the report. We have gotten a report which we have submitted to the federation to work with.
"The referee association and the NFF are working hand in hand to make sure that the Nigerian referees go to the next World Cup."
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