Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, has acknowledged the contributions of Nigerian women in sports, hailing them for consistently being at the forefront of the country’s greatest sporting achievements, The PUNCH reports.
Dikko paid the tribute in a statement released by the National Sports Commission on Sunday to commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day.
“Our first Olympic gold medal came through Chioma Ajunwa in Atlanta 1996, a moment that inspired a generation of Nigerian athletes to believe that global excellence was possible.
“Across athletics, football, basketball, wrestling, weightlifting, para sports and many other disciplines, Nigerian women have continued to raise the nation’s flag with pride and distinction. These achievements remind us that Nigerian women have never merely participated in sports; they have led, broken barriers and set new standards of excellence.”
The NSC boss also pledged the commitment of the country’s apex sports body to the empowerment of women in sports.
“As a commission, we must continue to align with that vision by creating opportunities, strengthening support systems and ensuring that young girls across the country have the platforms they need to dream, compete and succeed.
“Indeed, we are very proud at the NSC that most of our key directorates, which are the heartbeat of our work, are headed by women who are doing exceptional work in advancing the commission’s vision and objectives. When Nigerian women succeed in sport, the entire nation moves forward.”
Over the years, Nigerian women have distinguished themselves by setting remarkable records in African and global sports.
Aside from Ajunwa, Nigeria has produced several household names in track and field since its early outings at global competitions, including Mary Onyali and Falilat Ogunkoya, among others.
Nigeria also produced its first athletics world record holder in Tobi Amusan, who ran 12.12 seconds in the semi-finals of the women’s 100m hurdles at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA, in 2022. Amusan went on to win the world title, becoming the first Nigerian to achieve the feat, although her 12.06 seconds in the final was wind-assisted and therefore did not count as a world record.
In football, the women’s national team, the Super Falcons, has won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations a record 10 times. Their basketball counterparts, D’Tigress, recently won a fifth consecutive Women’s AfroBasket title and also became the first African team to reach the quarter-finals of the women’s basketball event at the 2024 Olympics.
Other notable Nigerian women who have excelled in sports in recent years include long jumper Ese Brume, Olympic wrestling medallist Blessing Oborududu, who won Nigeria’s first Olympic medal in wrestling at Tokyo 2020, Odunayo Adekuoroye, and six-time CAF Women’s Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala, among others.
Nigerian women have also excelled in para sports, including Folashade Oluwafemiayo, Lucy Ejike, Lauritta Onye, and Eniola Bolaji, who is currently the world number one in the women’s SL3 badminton category.
