Ado Salisu
Philanthropist and entrepreneur Kingsley James Awodi has been elected as the new President of the Nigeria Para Powerlifting Federation, marking the beginning of a new chapter for one of the country’s most successful sports federations.
Awodi was elected unopposed after securing all 12 votes cast by delegates during the federation’s elective congress held at the VIP Lounge of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
Delegates described his emergence as a reflection of the confidence reposed in his leadership, citing his longstanding commitment to the development of para powerlifting through sustained financial, material, and moral support for athletes and the national team.
Over the years, Awodi has remained actively involved in the growth of the sport, supporting training camps, national trials, and international competitions while maintaining close engagement with athletes. His contributions earned him broad support from stakeholders, who viewed him as the ideal candidate to lead the federation.
Awodi will serve a four-year term alongside the newly elected Vice President, Patrick Akukeke, M.O.N., who also emerged unopposed. The new executive committee is expected to be inaugurated later in the day.
Speaking after his election, Awodi expressed appreciation to the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC) for providing an enabling environment for transparent sports administration.
“I want to appreciate the leadership of the NSC under Mallam Shehu Dikko and Hon. Bukola Olopade for giving us an enabling environment to thrive,” he said.
He pledged to run an inclusive, innovative, and accountable administration aimed at consolidating Nigeria’s dominance in para powerlifting on the global stage.
“We are coming on board to carry everybody along. Para powerlifting has brought immense glory to Nigeria internationally, and it is time to build a sustainable system that will preserve and expand those achievements. We will introduce innovation and move beyond the old ways of doing things,” Awodi stated.
The new federation president identified youth development and athlete welfare as major priorities of his administration, noting the urgent need to prepare the next generation of elite para powerlifters.
According to him, many of Nigeria’s medal-winning athletes are approaching the latter stages of their competitive careers, making succession planning essential to sustaining the country’s international success.
“We are going to encourage young and upcoming athletes so that we can gradually replace the aging athletes with fresh talent. We will establish more grassroots programmes, training centres, and competitions to provide young lifters with a clear pathway to the national team,” he added.
Stakeholders believe Awodi’s experience in the private sector and his passion for sports development will help attract strategic partnerships, improve funding opportunities, and strengthen support systems for athletes.
With Nigeria’s para powerlifting team ranked among Africa’s most successful and consistently competitive on the global stage, expectations are high that the new administration will build on previous achievements and position the federation for greater success in the next Olympic cycle.