In a historic move for Nigeria and the global motorsport community, two Nigerians, Michael Ango and Denen Ikya were recently elected president and member respectively in the Ethics Committee of Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).
Their elections, which were announced by the FIA president, Dr Mohammed Ben Sulayem, at the recently concluded Annual General Assembly in Bologna Italy, are in line with the vision of FIA president to promote equality, diversity and inclusion within the Federation.
With their election, Nigeria has made history as the first African country to get the presidency of the Ethics Committee of FIA along with an additional membership seat.
In a press statement by Ango the new president who is a lawyer/partner and Head of Tax Advisory and Regulatory Services (Andersen Nigeria), the appointment is for a four-year tenue commencing January 1 2023.
Ikya, who is an Abuja-based legal practitioner was elected as a member of the committee alongside three other members from Brazil and USA/Canada.
With this election, Ango becomes the first African president of the Ethics Committee since its creation as an organ of FIA.
Mr Ishaku Bamaiyi, President of Automobile and Touring Club of Nigeria (ATCN), the Nigerian affiliate of FIA through which Ango and Ikya were nominated stated that the election of the two Nigerians into the standing committee of FIA is a major milestone for the club, the country and Africa.
According to him, this is a culmination of the efforts of ATCN to put Nigeria on the global map of Automobile Mobility and Tourism and World Motor Sport noting that Ango and Ikya were elected on merit and in order to deepen the knowledge and resource base of FIA in line with the vision of the president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem to make the FIA, a knowledge-led federation with world-class governance to empower clubs, members and the World Councils.
With their election, Nigeria is expected to benefit by having a stronger voice in global motorsport regulation and governance and in encouraging investments/toucrism opportunities in Motorsport and Mobility.
