By Promise Okotoko
President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has recorded significant milestones in Nigerian wrestling within his first year in office, with achievements in athlete welfare, grassroots development, international competitions and capacity building.
Adeniyi, who also serves as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, was unanimously elected president of the federation on October 25, 2025, during its elective congress held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
Before his emergence as NWF president, Adeniyi had established himself as a strong supporter of sports development through sponsorships, athlete empowerment and grassroots initiatives across different sporting disciplines.
His election to lead one of Nigeria’s internationally recognised sports federations provided another opportunity to advance his commitment to youth development and sports excellence.
Since assuming office, Adeniyi has focused on strengthening the federation, improving athletes’ welfare, promoting professionalism and expanding Nigeria’s presence at international competitions. His administration has also continued to build on the foundation laid by his predecessor, former NWF President Daniel Igali, through a combination of continuity, innovation and strategic investment.
In his first interview after his election, Adeniyi emphasised the role of sports in promoting peace and unity among people of different backgrounds.
“The real essence of sports beyond competition is fostering peaceful coexistence among diverse races and cultures. Together with my team of technical and competent board members, we will dedicate our energy and expertise to help actualise and build a stronger and more virile federation for the country,” he said.
One of the early achievements of his administration was Nigeria’s participation in the maiden West Africa Wrestling Championship in the Republic of Benin.
The federation sponsored six athletes and eight team officials, led by its vice-president, to compete in the championship, which also featured development programmes for coaches, referees and administrators under the supervision of United World Wrestling (UWW) Director of Development, Deqa Niamkey.
Team Nigeria delivered an impressive performance, winning 11 medals comprising nine gold, one silver and one bronze across the U-17, senior freestyle and beach wrestling categories. The gold medals included four in U-17 women’s wrestling, one in senior men’s wrestling and four in beach wrestling, while the silver medal came in the senior women’s category and the bronze in beach wrestling.
The performance demonstrated the potential of Nigerian wrestlers and the importance of exposing athletes and technical officials to regional competitions and development opportunities.Adeniyi’s commitment to improving athletes’ welfare was also evident at the 2025 Governor Douye Diri National Wrestling Classics, where participants benefited from improved accommodation and feeding arrangements.
For the first time, according to the federation, athletes were accommodated in a Games Village and provided with free meals, while medal winners received cash rewards. Participating states, clubs and military and paramilitary teams also benefited from financial subsidies.
The measures represented a significant step towards reducing the financial burden on participants and creating better conditions for athletes and other stakeholders.
Nigeria’s performance at the 2026 African Wrestling Championships in Alexandria, Egypt, was another major highlight of Adeniyi’s first year in office.
The country’s women wrestlers extended Nigeria’s record in African wrestling by securing a 15th continental title, winning eight gold and two silver medals to claim all 10 available medals in the women’s events.
The historic achievement attracted national recognition, with President Bola Tinubu publicly congratulating the wrestlers for their outstanding performance.
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, also hosted the victorious team at the National Stadium in Abuja following their return from Egypt, further highlighting the growing recognition of wrestling in the country.
In a move aimed at strengthening the sport beyond competition, Adeniyi ensured that Nigeria’s delegation to Egypt included referees, technical officials and sports journalists alongside athletes and coaches.
The approach reflected his administration’s belief that sustainable development requires investment not only in athletes but also in officiating, technical expertise and media visibility.The federation also sponsored Nigeria’s participation in the 2026 United World Wrestling Third Ranking Series in Mongolia, where the country competed with four athletes and won one silver and two bronze medals.
The competition provided valuable international exposure and an opportunity for Nigerian wrestlers to measure their abilities against elite opponents ahead of future World Championships and Olympic Games.
Nigeria also competed at the Central African Wrestling Championships in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, as part of the federation’s strategy to expose athletes to different opponents and competitive environments.
The team returned with five gold and one silver medal across freestyle, beach and women’s wrestling categories.
Beyond the medal haul, members of the delegation, led by the federation’s assistant secretary and coach, Oyinbrakemi Tangi, benefited from advanced coaching and technical training designed to improve their expertise and contribute to the long-term development of wrestling in Nigeria.Adeniyi’s development strategy has also extended to veteran wrestlers and experienced coaches.
The federation president sponsored former national champion Mapsin Elias Mika and veteran coach Babatunde James, popularly known as Tunde King, to participate in the United World Wrestling Veterans World Wrestling Championships in Jordan.
At the competition, Mika made history by becoming the first Nigerian veteran wrestler to win a medal at the global event, securing a medal in the 70kg Greco-Roman category.
His achievement demonstrated the importance of providing experienced wrestlers with opportunities to continue competing and representing the country internationally.
Nigeria also recorded a significant milestone by sending 11 athletes to the World Wrestling Championships, marking the highest number of Nigerian wrestlers to participate in the competition, according to the federation.
The expanded representation reflected efforts to increase Nigeria’s presence on the global stage and build on its dominance in African wrestling.
Beyond wrestling, Adeniyi has continued to support sports development across several disciplines, including football, volleyball, basketball, handball and athletics.
Through sponsorships, mentorship and strategic investments, he has demonstrated his belief that sports can empower young people, discover talents and contribute to national development. His first year as NWF president has therefore been marked by efforts to improve athletes’ welfare, expand international participation, strengthen technical capacity and create opportunities for wrestlers at different levels.
The achievements recorded during the period have also reinforced the importance of sustained investment in grassroots development and the people responsible for advancing the sport.As Adeniyi begins his second year in office, the challenge will be to consolidate these gains, develop emerging talents and translate Nigeria’s continental success into stronger performances at global competitions.
His administration’s emphasis on professionalism, inclusiveness and capacity building is expected to remain central to the federation’s pursuit of sustained growth and excellence.
