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Team Nigeria Dazzles in an Electrifying Day 2 at CAA U18/U20 Athletics Championship
Joel Ajayi
Under the watchful eyes of the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Alhaji Shehu Dikko, the Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, and the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Day 2 of the ongoing CAA U18/U20 African Athletics Championship lit up with Nigerian brilliance on home soil at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta.
It was a clean sweep in the girls’ 100m U-18 final as Team Nigeria asserted its dominance sweeping all medals in the category. Miracle Ezechukwu blazed to gold in 11.88secs, as she was followed closely by Rosemary Nwankwo (11.96secs), captain of the Invited Junior Athletes at the 22nd National Sports Festival, while Miriam Jegede clinched bronze with 12.20secs, completing a historic podium takeover.
The momentum carried into the U-20 girls’ 100m final, where Nigeria bagged gold and silver. Chioma Nweke stormed to first place in 11.65secs, followed by Success Oyibu with 11.78secs.
Although Nigeria’s third finalist, Chiamaka Nwankwo, narrowly missed the podium, she showed great promise, finishing fourth in 11.98secs.
In the boys’ category, Nigeria kept the flag flying with two bronze medals. Clifford Igbigbidje clocked 10.89secs in the U-18 100m final, while John Caleb’s 10.61secs finish earned him bronze in the U-20 final. Both races were fiercely contested, with South Africa taking gold and silver in both events.
Capping off a thrilling day, Nigeria triumphed in the U-20 Mixed 4x400m Relay. In a race that swung back and forth, Nigeria’s anchor, Favour Onyah, held firm and surged ahead to secure gold after South Africa’s anchor stumbled near the finish. That victory sealed Nigeria’s third gold of the day, following the earlier wins in the girls’ 100m U-18 and U-20 events.
Dignitaries including CAA President Hamad Kalkaba Malboum, athletics legend Chief Segun Odegbami, Olympian Mary Onyali, and other key stakeholders were in attendance, joining thousands of spirited fans who turned out to witness the future of African athletics.
Featured
Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support
Joel Ajayi
Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.
More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.
The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.
Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.
The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.
Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.
Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.
Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.
Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.
The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.
Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.
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