Nigeria Judo Board Backs Oshodi After Historic Commonwealth Medal

The Board of the Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF) has unanimously passed a vote of confidence in its President, Dr Musa Oshodi, praising his leadership following Enku Ekuta’s historic bronze medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The resolution was adopted on Monday, August 18, during the federation’s statutory board meeting held online. The motion was moved by Omo Oba Segun Gbayi, the NJF Vice-President III and Technical Director.

Ekuta’s bronze medal in the women’s -63kg category ended Nigeria’s 24-year wait for a Commonwealth Games judo medal. The country’s previous medal in the sport was won by Alice Livinus at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

In a communique signed by board members, the NJF described Oshodi’s leadership as “visionary” and credited his administration’s programmes and policies with contributing to the recent resurgence of Nigerian judo.

The board particularly highlighted the federation’s transparent Commonwealth Games trials in Abuja, which produced Ekuta and other qualifiers, as well as improved training camps, international exposure and athlete welfare programmes.

It also pointed to Nigeria’s consistent performances at the African Judo Championships, including Ekuta’s gold medal in 2020 and silver in 2019, as evidence of the progress made under Oshodi.

“Dr Oshodi has repositioned Nigerian Judo and taken it to enviable heights through purposeful leadership, accountability and athlete-centred programmes. The Commonwealth medal is proof that our system is working,” the board stated.

The federation described Ekuta’s achievement as symbolic of the progress being made in Nigerian judo and called for increased investment in grassroots development and athlete welfare.

The board also reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the momentum ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games, African Games and other major international competitions.

Oshodi thanked the board for its confidence and dedicated Ekuta’s Commonwealth medal to Nigerian judokas, coaches and stakeholders across the country.

He pledged to consolidate the gains made under his administration and work towards making judo one of Nigeria’s consistent medal-winning sports on the international stage.