From Rhoda Godwin, Yenagoa
For many athletes, winning a medal is the ultimate reward for years of sacrifice, discipline, and hard work. But behind every successful athlete is a system of support, opportunities to compete, quality coaching, and leaders that are willing to invest in their dreams.
For Nigerian wrestling, the past year has offered a glimpse of what such investment can achieve under the leadership of Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) and President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF).
Since assuming office on October 25, 2025, Adeniyi has pursued a vision that goes beyond winning medals. His leadership has focused on improving athletes’ welfare, expanding international exposure, strengthening technical capacity and creating opportunities for more Nigerians to participate in the sport.
His journey into sports administration did not begin with his election as wrestling federation president. Before taking up the position, Adeniyi had established himself as a supporter of sports development, particularly initiatives that promote youth empowerment and grassroots talent.
His interest cuts across several sporting disciplines, including wrestling, football, volleyball, basketball, handball and athletics. Through sponsorships and other forms of support, he has demonstrated a willingness to contribute to the development of sports beyond the boundaries of his official responsibilities.
However, his election as NWF president presented a different opportunity: to translate that passion into a structured programme capable of strengthening Nigerian wrestling.
At the federation’s elective congress held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on October 25, 2025, Adeniyi was unanimously elected president.
In his first interview after the election, he spoke about the broader purpose of sports and the responsibility that came with his new position.
“The real essence of sports beyond competition is fostering peaceful coexistence among diverse races and cultures,” he said.
He added that, working with his team of technical and competent board members, they would dedicate their energy and expertise to building “a stronger and more virile Federation for the country.”
One year later, the federation’s activities have reflected that ambition, with investments in competitions, athlete welfare, international participation and the development of coaches and officials.
Putting athletes at the centre
For athletes, the quality of preparation and the conditions under which they compete can make a significant difference. Beyond training and talent, access to accommodation, feeding, financial support and international competitions can determine how far they progress.
The 2025 Governor Douye Diri National Wrestling Classics marked a notable step in addressing some of these concerns.
For the first time, participating athletes were accommodated in a Games Village and provided with free feeding. Medal winners also received cash rewards, while participating states, clubs, and military and paramilitary teams benefited from financial subsidies.
These measures represented an effort to ease some of the financial pressures associated with participation and recognise the contributions of athletes and other stakeholders.
For wrestlers who spend months preparing for competitions, such support can help make the sporting experience more rewarding and encourage continued commitment to their careers.
The initiative also reinforced a broader principle underpinning Adeniyi’s leadership: sports development must consider not only performance on the mat but also the welfare of the people who make that performance possible.
From regional competition to international recognition
Adeniyi’s first year also saw Nigerian wrestlers compete in several international championships, gaining valuable experience against opponents from different countries.
One of the early highlights was Nigeria’s participation in the maiden West Africa Wrestling Championship in the Republic of Benin.
The NWF sponsored six athletes and eight team officials, with the delegation led by the federation’s vice-president. The championship also featured wrestling education and development activities supervised by United World Wrestling’s Director of Development, Deqa Niamkey.
The programme provided opportunities to strengthen the knowledge and skills of coaches, referees and administrators across the region.
On the competition floor, the Nigerian contingent delivered an impressive performance, collecting 11 medals across the under-17, senior freestyle, and beach wrestling categories.
The haul comprised nine gold medals, one silver and one bronze. Four of the gold medals came from the under-17 women’s category, one from senior men’s wrestling and four from beach wrestling. Nigeria also won a silver medal in the senior women’s category and a bronze in beach wrestling.
Beyond the medal count, the championship provided young wrestlers and officials with an opportunity to learn, compete and measure their abilities against regional counterparts.
That combination of competition and capacity building has remained an important feature of the federation’s approach.
A historic African triumph
Perhaps the most prominent achievement of Adeniyi’s first year came at the 2026 African Wrestling Championships in Alexandria, Egypt.
Nigeria’s women’s team extended its continental dominance by securing a record-extending 15th African title, winning eight gold and two silver medals to claim all 10 available medals in the women’s events.
The achievement was a powerful demonstration of the country’s strength in African women’s wrestling and the determination of athletes who continue to carry Nigeria’s flag at major competitions.
It also attracted recognition at the highest levels of government.
President Bola Tinubu publicly celebrated the wrestlers for their outstanding performance, bringing national attention to a sport whose achievements do not always receive the visibility enjoyed by more prominent sporting disciplines.
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, also hosted the victorious team at the National Stadium in Abuja following their return from Egypt.
The recognition offered the wrestlers an opportunity to celebrate their achievement at home and highlighted the importance of acknowledging athletes whose performances bring honour to the country.
For Nigerian wrestling, the reception was more than a celebration of medals. It was a reminder that sporting achievements deserve national attention and that recognition can encourage young people to consider sports as a serious pursuit.
Adeniyi also ensured that the Egyptian delegation extended beyond athletes and coaches to include referees, technical personnel and sports journalists.
The decision reflected a broader understanding of sports development: athletes need qualified officials, knowledgeable technical teams and media coverage to help their achievements reach a wider audience.
Taking Nigerian wrestlers beyond Africa
While continental success remains important, Adeniyi’s administration has also sought to give Nigerian wrestlers more opportunities to compete at higher levels.
At the 2026 United World Wrestling (UWW) third Ranking Series in Mongolia, Nigeria competed with four athletes, and returned with one silver and two bronze medals.
The results provided the wrestlers with international exposure and an opportunity to assess their performances against competitors from other wrestling nations.
Such competitions can help athletes and coaches identify strengths, recognise weaknesses and adjust their preparation for future world championships and Olympic competitions.
A similar strategy informed Nigeria’s participation in the Central African Wrestling Championships in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo.
The Nigerian team returned with five gold and one silver medal across freestyle, beach and women’s wrestling.
Beyond the competition, members of the delegation, led by federation Assistant Secretary and coach, Oyinbrakemi Tangi, also benefited from advanced coaching and technical training.
The experience offered an opportunity to acquire practical knowledge that could be transferred to local training programmes and used to improve the preparation of future Nigerian wrestlers.
By combining international competition with professional development, the federation has sought to ensure that the benefits of travelling abroad extend beyond the athletes who win medals.
Giving wrestling veterans another opportunity
Adeniyi’s approach has also recognised that the development of wrestling should not leave behind those who helped build the sport.
As part of this commitment, the federation sponsored wrestling veteran and former national champion, Mapsin Elias Mika, and veteran coach, Babatunde James, popularly known as Tunde King, to participate in the UWW Veterans World Wrestling Championships in Jordan.
Mika went on to make history by becoming the first Nigerian veteran wrestler to win a medal at the global competition, competing in the 70kg Greco-Roman category.
His achievement demonstrated that the contributions of experienced wrestlers remain relevant and that opportunities for competition and recognition need not end with an athlete’s conventional competitive career.
It also offered a reminder to younger wrestlers that dedication to the sport can leave a lasting legacy.
Building a stronger technical foundation
Behind every successful wrestling team is a network of coaches, referees and administrators whose work often takes place away from public attention.
Recognising this, the NWF under Adeniyi has provided sponsorship opportunities for Nigerian referees to gain international exposure, while supporting coaches and administrators in strengthening their professional knowledge.
These efforts are important because the credibility of competitions depends on competent officiating, while the quality of coaching influences how athletes develop their skills and prepare for major events.
International exposure can also help officials understand evolving rules and professional standards, while enabling coaches to exchange ideas and learn new approaches to training.
By investing in these groups, the federation is working towards a wrestling system in which success depends not only on the talent of individual athletes but also on the strength of the institutions supporting them.
Adeniyi’s leadership has also been shaped by a commitment to continuity. Rather than discarding the structures established by his predecessor, former NWF president Daniel Igali, his administration has sought to build on the existing foundation while introducing additional initiatives.
This approach recognises that sustainable sports development requires consistency, institutional memory and the willingness to improve on work already done.
A bigger stage for Nigerian wrestling
Another significant milestone came in 2026, when Nigeria travelled to the World Wrestling Championships with 11 athletes, marking a major step in the country’s participation at the global event.
The expanded contingent reflected the federation’s ambition to expose more Nigerian wrestlers to the highest level of international competition.
While participation alone does not guarantee medals, competing against some of the world’s best wrestlers provides invaluable experience and helps athletes understand the demands of elite competition.
For Nigeria, which has enjoyed considerable success in African wrestling, the challenge is to translate continental dominance into more consistent performances on the world stage.
That transition requires sustained investment, strong domestic competitions, effective coaching, international exposure and long-term athlete development.
The federation’s initiatives over the past year have sought to address several of these needs, although maintaining progress will require continued commitment and measurable results in the years ahead.
Beyond the office
For Adeniyi, the presidency of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation has become another avenue through which he can contribute to youth development and national progress.
His position as Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service places him among the country’s senior public officials, but his involvement in sports has allowed him to engage with a different community of Nigerians: athletes striving to turn their abilities into achievement.
The results recorded during his first year include continental titles, international medals, opportunities for veteran wrestlers, greater exposure for officials and improved welfare arrangements at domestic competitions.
These achievements provide a foundation on which the federation can build. The longer-term test will be whether the initiatives translate into stronger grassroots programmes, more competitive athletes, improved standards of governance and sustained success at world championships and the Olympic Games.
For now, Adeniyi’s first year in office offers a picture of a federation seeking to broaden its ambitions while strengthening the people and structures behind the sport.
From the young wrestler entering a competition for the first time to the veteran returning to the mat, Nigerian wrestling needs a system that recognises talent, rewards dedication and creates opportunities for growth.
Ultimately, the true measure of leadership will not be the number of medals won in a single year, but the opportunities created, the athletes developed and the institutions strengthened for the future.
As Nigerian wrestling looks ahead, the challenge is to build on these achievements and ensure that the next generation inherits a sport with stronger foundations, wider opportunities and an even greater presence on the global stage.