The Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF) Board has unanimously endorsed its president, Dr Musa Oshodi, praising his leadership and the progress made by the sport under his administration.
The decision was reached during the Board’s statutory virtual meeting on Monday, August 18. Omo Oba Segun Gbayi, the federation’s third vice-president and technical director, presented the motion.
The endorsement came after Enku Ekuta secured bronze in the women’s -63kg event at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Her result brought Nigeria’s 24-year wait for a Commonwealth Games judo medal to an end. The country’s previous medal in the discipline had been won by Alice Livinus in Manchester in 2002.
In its communiqué, the Board attributed the breakthrough directly to measures introduced during Oshodi’s tenure. These included open Commonwealth Games selection trials in Abuja, through which Ekuta and other qualifiers emerged, enhanced training camps, greater international competition for athletes, and regular medal success at the African Judo Championships. Ekuta won gold at the continental event in 2020 and silver in 2019.
“Dr Oshodi has transformed Nigerian judo and lifted it to an enviable level through focused leadership, accountability and programmes centred on athletes. This Commonwealth medal demonstrates that the system is delivering,” the Board stated.
The Board labelled Ekuta’s performance a landmark achievement and urged increased nationwide support for grassroots programmes and athlete welfare. It also said the federation intended to use the progress as a platform for the 2028 Olympic Games, the African Games and further international competitions.
In response, Oshodi dedicated the Commonwealth medal to Nigeria’s judokas, coaches and stakeholders nationwide. He promised to strengthen the federation’s progress and establish judo as one of the country’s reliable sources of medals.
