Ado Salisu
Nigeria’s athletics ecosystem is witnessing a remarkable resurgence, driven largely by the impressive performances of home-based athletes who are restoring the country’s status as a continental and global force in track and field.
Over the past year, locally based athletes have emerged as the backbone of Team Nigeria’s success, delivering standout performances at major regional and international competitions and demonstrating the effectiveness of ongoing investments in talent development, training, and competition exposure.
A major milestone in this resurgence came during Nigeria’s qualification campaign for the World Athletics Relays Championships in Gaborone, Botswana. Determined to return the country to the forefront of global relay competition, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), with the support of the National Sports Commission (NSC), implemented an extensive competition and preparation programme that enabled athletes to participate in several national and international events ahead of the championships.
The strategy paid off as Nigeria secured qualification in six relay events for the World Athletics Relays Championships, highlighting the nation’s growing depth and competitiveness in relay racing.
Team Nigeria further consolidated its progress in Botswana, where strong performances earned the country three relay qualification slots for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in China.
One of the most historic achievements came through Nigeria’s mixed relay team, which became the first African nation to qualify for the Mixed 4x100m Relay event at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship scheduled for Budapest, Hungary, later this year.
Before the World Relays, a predominantly home-based Nigerian team had already signalled its potential with an outstanding showing at the Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia, where athletes gained valuable international exposure and experience.
The momentum continued at the CAA Senior Athletics Championships in Accra, Ghana, where home-grown athletes formed the core of Team Nigeria and delivered commendable performances against some of the continent’s best competitors.
Speaking on the development, the Second Vice President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Aku Aghazu, said the recent successes validate the federation’s commitment to developing athletes within Nigeria.
“The true strength of any athletics system is not measured by its stars abroad but by the opportunities available to athletes training at home,” she said.
According to Aghazu, home-based athletes remain central to the federation’s long-term vision, with programmes already in place to keep athletes active throughout the year through competitions, training camps, performance monitoring, and talent identification initiatives.
She noted that the federation has intensified efforts to provide athletes with modern training opportunities while ensuring that exceptional talents receive advanced coaching and exposure.
Aghazu also commended the National Sports Commission for its support, particularly during the recent training camp in Asaba, which contributed significantly to Nigeria’s performances at both the World Relays and the African Championships.
Despite financial constraints, she said the federation remains committed to expanding opportunities for athletes based in Nigeria through improved competition structures, enhanced athlete welfare, stronger partnerships with schools, and capacity-building programmes for coaches and technical officials.
She disclosed that one of the major infrastructure projects currently underway is the refurbishment of the athletics facility in Shagamu, Ogun State, with support from the NSC and collaboration from educational institutions.
According to her, the facility will serve as a major training hub, while scholarship opportunities and other development programmes are also being explored to support athletes.
In another significant development, Aghazu revealed that prize money will be introduced at the National Trials for home-based athletes and selected coaches, marking a major incentive aimed at rewarding excellence and encouraging higher performance standards.
The AFN’s development efforts 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.
She noted that exposure to modern training methods and regular competition opportunities has accelerated the growth of these athletes and strengthened Nigeria’s talent pipeline.
The progress has also attracted increasing interest from international universities and elite athletics clubs, particularly in the United States, which are offering scholarships and professional development opportunities to emerging Nigerian athletes.
To ensure these opportunities align with national development objectives, the AFN’s technical leadership continues to monitor athlete development pathways and provide guidance to athletes pursuing opportunities abroad.
The federation believes the future of Nigerian athletics lies in sustained investment in local talent development, infrastructure, coaching, and athlete support systems.
With improved funding, enhanced technical programmes, expanding talent pools, and growing institutional support, stakeholders say Nigerian athletics is entering a new era of growth and competitiveness.
The achievements recorded over the past 12 months provide strong evidence that Nigeria’s next generation of athletics stars is already making its mark, both on the continent and on the global stage.