A Historic Day for Nigerian Sports
Saturday, October 25, 2025, marked a historic and defining moment for Nigerian sports, as the National Sports Commission (NSC) successfully conducted elections across 16 sports federations, culminating in the inauguration of newly elected Presidents and Board members at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. The event, held at the stadium’s Package B complex, brought together stakeholders from across the nation and highlighted a renewed commitment to integrity, professionalism, and innovation in Nigerian sports administration.
The elections produced a blend of familiar faces and fresh leadership, signaling a conscious effort to balance experience with new ideas. While the overall atmosphere was largely peaceful, there were pockets of drama and controversy, underscoring the intensity and high stakes of sports administration in Nigeria.
Key Outcomes of the Elections
All federations successfully elected new boards except for the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), which had conducted its elections earlier in the year, and the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), whose elections are scheduled for 2026. Notably, the Kickboxing Federation election was postponed indefinitely due to what the electoral committee described as ‘serious governance concerns and protest from stakeholders,’ citing irregularities linked to its secretary, Javan Bernard.
Similarly, elections for the Gymnastics and Judo Federations were declared inconclusive and are set to be re-conducted due to reported irregularities, demonstrating the NSC’s commitment to fairness and transparency in sports governance.
Among the re-elected officials was Simon Nkom, who retained his position as President of the Hockey Federation unopposed, having impressed stakeholders with his leadership during his first term. Reflecting on his victory, Nkom said, ‘We’ve made significant progress in the past four years, but this is just the beginning. Our goal is to take Nigerian hockey to continental dominance.’ His re-election highlights both continuity and a recognition of proven leadership in driving performance and development in Nigerian sports.
New Leadership and Strategic Shifts
In other significant results, Commodore Mohammed Shettima emerged as the new President of the Shooting Federation, defeating the incumbent Ayotunde by eight votes to five. Shettima’s victory represents a strategic shift in the federation’s direction, aimed at enhancing competitiveness and improving athlete development.
Prominent among the ‘big names’ that have stepped forward to lend support to Nigerian sports was a former Governor of Gombe State, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, who was overwhelmingly elected as the president of Chess Federation. Speaking after his inauguration, the former Accountant-General of the Federation announced an ambitious strategy to transform Nigerian chess through grassroots initiatives and strengthened institutional partnerships.
Senator Dankwambo, who represents Gombe North in the Senate, emphasized that his tenure would be defined by ‘innovation, professionalism, and integrity.’ He added, ‘My vision is to foster an inclusive, dynamic, and highly professional chess ecosystem that nurtures talent from grassroots schools to higher institutions across Nigeria.’
Diverse Leadership Across Sports
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, was elected unopposed as President of the Nigerian Boxing Federation (NBF), securing all twelve votes cast during the federation’s elections. A long-standing advocate for youth empowerment through sports, Edun previously served as Chairman of the Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame and has returned to boxing administration with a renewed focus on structural reforms.
‘Our vision is to restore the glory of Nigerian boxing through transparency, athlete development, and strong institutional reforms,’ he stated following his election.
In wrestling, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, was elected President of the Wrestling Federation. Former president and Olympic champion Daniel Igali retained a position on the board, representing the South-South Zone, ensuring continuity and experience within the leadership team.
Meanwhile, a former Delta State House of Assembly Speaker Victor Ochei was elected unopposed as the new President of the Tennis Federation, succeeding the late Ifedayo Akindoju. Speaking to stakeholders after his election, Ochei stated, ‘Tennis is a sport of discipline and strategy. We will expand grassroots participation and raise a new generation of champions.’ His words underscore a clear commitment to both nurturing talent and promoting widespread participation across the country.
Continued Leadership and New Beginnings
In the cricket community, Mr. Uyi Akpata was re-elected unopposed as President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) for a second term. A senior regional partner at PwC and a respected figure in both corporate and sports circles, Akpata has played a pivotal role in raising the standards of Nigerian cricket, advancing grassroots development, and promoting Nigeria’s sporting image globally.
Dunkwu Chamberlain was elected as the new President of the Nigeria Aquatic Federation (NAqF), succeeding Chief Mrs Chinoye Aliyu, who chose not to seek re-election. In a closely contested election for the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Mr. Jibril Saidu Ojih, was elected president, taking over from Samuel Ocheho, who stepped down after serving two terms.
Elsewhere, Dr Ademola Are was re-elected President of the Rugby Federation, alongside new Vice President Iyorhe Grace, while Senator Obinna Ogba made a surprise return to sports administration as the new President of the Traditional Sports Federation, succeeding Agbadabina Olomo Perekiye, who stepped down.
Inauguration and Expectations
Later that day, the newly elected Presidents and board members were inaugurated at a ceremony attended by top officials, including Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, Director-General of the NSC.
Mallam Dikko congratulated the new leaders, describing their election as ‘a call to service, innovation, and economic growth through sports.’ He emphasized the Commission’s expectations for integrity and tangible results: ‘Responsibility is not ceremonial. You are expected to be active, innovative, and results-driven leaders who will translate investments into competitive athletes, good governance, capacity building, resource mobilisation, and youth engagement.’
He further urged unity among all stakeholders, athletes, coaches, and administrators to ensure collective progress, stressing that collaboration and transparency would be the pillars of success under the new sports administration.
Director-General Olopade echoed similar sentiments, commending the Chairman for his effective leadership throughout the electoral process. He praised the electoral committee and sports directors for their integrity and diligence. ‘This process was about fairness, merit, and accountability. We are proud of how it was conducted, and I must commend everyone who contributed to its success,’ Olopade said. He also lauded the Federal Government’s continued support for sports, highlighting investments in infrastructure renewal, athlete welfare, and grassroots development.
Addressing the new board members, he issued a challenge: ‘Your responsibility extends beyond managing federations. You must build capacity, develop athletes, mobilise resources, engage the grassroots, and ensure transparency in all your dealings. The question you must ask yourselves is-what will you write on the new slate given to you?’
He urged them to lead with integrity and vision, adding, ‘Serve with honesty, deliver measurable results, and build systems that can outlive your tenure.’ Olopade emphasized that the Commission would maintain strict oversight to ensure accountability and performance-based governance: ‘The NSC is committed to good governance, transparency, and efficient management practices. We expect innovation and focus from these leaders to create tangible outcomes for Nigeria’s sports development.’
With the Commission promising oversight and support, expectations are high that this new generation of sports leaders will usher in a new era of professionalism, accountability, and excellence in Nigerian sports. As Mallam Dikko aptly concluded, ‘Today’s victory is not just for those elected-it is for Nigerian sports. The real work begins now.’