Nigeria’s very own Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi has brought pride to the nation after emerging winner of the prestigious International Sport and Culture Association (ISCA) Role Model of the Year Award in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The biennial ISCA Awards celebrate individuals and organizations using sports and physical activity as tools for social change, inclusion, and empowerment across the world. This year’s edition drew nominations from several countries, featuring inspiring figures who have used their platforms to transform lives and communities through sports.
Atoyebi, who serves as a leading voice in sports development and gender inclusion, clinched the top honour ahead of other globally recognized nominees, including Farid Walizadeh, a Portugal-based Afghan refugee who overcame incredible odds to become a national boxing champion and a passionate advocate for refugee rights, and Zainab Hussaini, a courageous Afghan woman who defied societal restrictions to empower women through sports and became the first woman to run a marathon in Afghanistan.
Arabinrin Aderonke’s work through the FAME Foundation, a non-governmental organization dedicated to empowering women and young girls through sports, particularly stood out. Her initiatives have reached girls in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, slum communities, and rural areas, using football and other sporting activities as tools to build self-confidence, teach essential life skills, and promote social inclusion.
Through her consistent advocacy and leadership, Atoyebi has become a driving force for gender equality and youth empowerment in Nigeria and beyond, demonstrating how sports can serve as a powerful medium for education, unity, and hope.
By virtue of the recognition, she received a €3,000 cash prize, alongside the global visibility that comes with the ISCA award.
Speaking to journalists shortly after receiving the award, Aderonke expressed deep gratitude and excitement over the honour, dedicating it to her team and all those who have supported her journey.
“This award means a lot to me. It’s a testament to the hard work my team and I have put in over the years,” she said. “To be recognised on such an international stage shows that no effort toward positive change ever goes unnoticed. It motivates me to keep pushing boundaries and reaching more girls who need hope and opportunity.”
Aderonke’s recognition further reinforces Nigeria’s growing presence in global conversations around sports-for-development and women’s empowerment. Her journey continues to inspire many young women across Africa to believe that with passion, dedication, and purpose, they too can create lasting change.