Izuchukwu OkosiThe world celebrates the women today (8 March 2024) for their outstanding work and grace in making the world a better place.
In Nigerian sporting industry, there are women who have been trailblazers in their respective disciplines from Athletics to Football, Table Tennis and Wrestling among others.
In this special report, Izuchukwu Okosi recalls the exploits of six of Nigeria’s greatest sport ‘sheroes’
1. Asisat Oshoala
Five-time Africa Women’s Footballer of the Year Asisat Oshoala came into international limelight in 2014 when she won the Most Valuable Player and top scorer in the 2014 Women’s U-20 World Cup, as Nigeria lost 2-0 to Germany in the final.
The former Barcelona Femini star Oshoala was named the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year in 2015. She has as also played for top sides like Arsenal and Liverpool Ladies.
The Super Falcons superstar established a Foundation that takes care of the girl child. She also runs a football academy.
Oshoala was in the same conversation with former international, Perpetua Nkwocha as the most decorated Nigerian footballer but with the latter’s four African Footballer of The Year award prizes, Oshoala has edged it.
Oshoala has graced some commercials as she represents a popular drinks manufacturers.
2. Chioma Ajunwa
Assistant Commissioner of Police, (ACP), Chioma Ajunwa leapt into immortality when she became the first Nigerian and African woman to win gold at the Olympics.
Ajunwa achieved this at the long jump event of the Atlanta 96 Games and was deservedly honoured by the General Sani Abacha government as a Member of the Order of Niger (MON).
Ajunwa began her career as a footballer and was in the Super Falcons side that represented Africa at the inaugural edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1991 as hosted by China.
Ajunwa grew through the ranks in the Nigeria Police Force.
She is the Chairperson of the Women’s Development Committee of Imo State Football Association and also a member of Committee on the Revival of the Nigeria Academicals Sports Competitions.
On 1 October 2010, Nigeria celebrated its 50th Independence anniversary and as part of that celebration, President Goodluck Jonathan conferred special Golden Jubilee Independence Awards on 50 distinguished Nigerians and friends of Nigeria including Ajunwa for their contributions to the development of the country.
Ajunwa is one of the few Nigerian sports stars to be conferred with chieftancy titles by their communities for outstanding perflemced at international competitions.
Read More on International Women’s Day:
- #IWD2023: How Nigerian Grandma, 70, Chased And Killed Cobra That Spat Into Her Eyes
- IWD 2024: Decreasing Funding, Crises Stall Women’s Rights Campaigns – WHO
- IWD 2024: 5 Nigerian Celebrities Leading The Charge For Women’s Rights
3. Tobi Amusan
Africa’s 100m hurdles queen Tobi Amusan is one of the most distinguished women in Nigeria’s sporting firmament.
Despite recent issues with the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) over drug-related offences, Amusan trailed the blaze with her outstanding records in her discipline.
Amusan, OON, an ambassador of several brands already, became the first Nigerian world champion and record holder in the World Athletics Championship when in 2022 she leapt to 100m gold medal with 12.12 seconds feat in the semi-final, followed up by a wind-assisted 12.06 seconds in the final.
Amusan returned to the World Championship in 2023 albeit she finished in 4th place ostensibly with the drugs case weighing heavily in her broad shoulders.
4. Odunayo Adekuoroye
Nigerian women wrestler Odunayo Adekuoroye may be competing in a sport not too popular at the home front (there is huge followership of the WWE in Nigeria).
Adekuoroye is fondly remembered for her godl medial finish at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow where won the women’s freestyle 53 kg event.
The lanky wrestler also claimed bronze at the 2015 World Wrestling Championship and went on to further win gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham after the 2014 and 2018 gold rush.
5. Mary Onyali
The story of Nigerian sports will not be complete without the mention of the immeasurable contributions of Mary Onyali-Omagbemi.
Prime Business Africa had been granted interviews by the ‘amazing Mary’ in the past and aside being an accomplished athlete during her active sporting days, is a wonderful human being.
Onyali was a former queen of the tracks and was a five-time Olympian being part of the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.
Onyali’s greatest moments albeit a team effort came in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona where Nigeria’s 4x100m relay team won bronze as well as the 1996 Olympics.
In 1994, she claimed the 100m gold in the Commonwealth Games
Since her retirement from the game, Onyali has been involved in sports administration by serving under different governments as either special adviser or consultant,
6. Funke Oshonaike
Nigeria table tennis will foerver be grateful to the contributions of Olufunke Oshonaike who represented her country with distinction.
The Germany-based star began her table tennis journey whilst in secondary at the Igbobi Girls High School, Yaba Lagos where her talent shone brightly. She went on to read Physical Education at the University of Lagos.
Oshonaike was in Nigeria’s singles tennis team to the 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020 Olympics making her the tennis star with the highest appearance at the competiton for a record seven times.
The easygoing lady occasionally travels down to Nigeria from her base in Hamburg to organise table tennis clinics for young children.
She is also an interviewer’s delight as she is always keen to analyse on ongoing competitions involving current table tennis players.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
