By Ado Salisu
Nigeria’s athletics sector is witnessing a remarkable resurgence, with home-based athletes playing a pivotal role in restoring the nation’s prominence on the continental and global stage.
Over the past year, athletes training within Nigeria have delivered outstanding performances at major regional and international competitions, demonstrating the growing depth of talent in the country and validating ongoing investments in grassroots and elite athlete development.
A major highlight of this resurgence came during Nigeria’s qualification campaign for the World Athletics Relays Championships in Gaborone, Botswana.
Through a strategic preparation programme implemented by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), with support from the National Sports Commission (NSC), athletes participated in a series of national and international competitions that enhanced their readiness for the global event.
The investment paid off as Team Nigeria secured qualification in six relay events for the World Athletics Relays Championships, underscoring the country’s growing competitiveness in relay racing.
Nigeria further strengthened its international standing in Botswana, where its relay teams earned three qualification slots for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in China.
The achievement reaffirmed the nation’s place among the world’s leading relay nations.
One of the most historic moments came through the mixed relay team, which became the first African side to qualify for the Mixed 4x100m Relay at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship scheduled for Budapest, Hungary, in September.
Prior to the World Relays, a largely home-based Nigerian contingent had also impressed at the Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia, gaining valuable experience and confidence. Similar performances followed at the CAA Senior Athletics Championships in Accra, Ghana, where locally based athletes formed the core of Team Nigeria and delivered commendable results.
Speaking on the development, AFN Second Vice President, Aku Aghazu, said the achievements validate the federation’s deliberate focus on nurturing athletes within Nigeria.
According to her, home-based athletes remain central to the federation’s long-term vision and are regarded as the foundation of Nigeria’s athletics future.
Aghazu explained that the AFN has introduced programmes aimed at keeping athletes active throughout the year through competitions, training camps, performance monitoring and talent identification initiatives.
Exceptional athletes are also selected for intensive coaching and development programmes.
She noted that the recent training camp in Asaba, supported by the NSC, significantly contributed to Nigeria’s impressive performances in Botswana and Ghana.
Despite financial challenges, the federation remains committed to improving opportunities for locally based athletes through enhanced competition structures, athlete support systems, partnerships with educational institutions and capacity-building programmes for coaches and officials.
Aghazu also praised the leadership of the National Sports Commission, particularly Shehu Dikko and Bukola Olopade, for their continued support of athletics development.
Among key infrastructure projects currently underway is the refurbishment of the athletics facility in Shagamu, near Babcock University. The institution is expected to support athletes through scholarship programmes and other development opportunities.
For the first time in several years, prize money will also be introduced at the National Trials for outstanding home-based athletes and coaches as part of efforts to reward excellence and encourage higher performance standards.
The federation’s talent development initiatives have already produced a new generation of promising athletes, including Chidera Ezeakor, Tejiri Godwin, Miracle Ezechukwu, Maria Thompson, Rosemary Nwankwo, Nathaniel Samson, Sikiru Adeyemi, Asuquo Ezekiel, Esther Okon, Gafari Badmus and Toheebat Jimoh.
According to Aghazu, exposing these athletes to modern training methods has yielded encouraging results, while attracting interest from leading universities in the United States and top athletics clubs around the world.
To ensure that such opportunities align with Nigeria’s long-term goals, the AFN’s Performance Directorate and Technical Committee continue to monitor athlete development pathways and provide guidance to maximize benefits for both the athletes and the country.
The renewed support of the National Sports Commission has also facilitated the reintroduction of structured periodic camping programmes for elite home-based athletes for the first time in more than a decade, creating an environment conducive to training, performance assessment and preparation for international competitions.
Aghazu stressed that the future of Nigerian athletics will be built through sustained development at home.
“The future of Nigerian athletics will be built on the tracks, fields, schools and communities across Nigeria, where talented young athletes are given the opportunity to dream, develop and succeed,” she said.
While acknowledging that challenges remain, she described the progress achieved so far as a strong indication that Nigerian athletics is on the right path.
With a growing pool of talented young athletes, improved funding support, stronger technical structures and a clearer development pathway, the achievements of the past year suggest that Nigeria’s next generation of athletics stars is already making a significant impact on the international stage.
