Former Commonwealth Medallist Ebireguesele Joins Edo Weightlifting Association Board

Former international weightlifter and Commonwealth Games medallist, Hon. Itohan Ebireguesele, has been appointed to the Board of the Edo State Weightlifting Association.

The appointment, conveyed in a letter dated August 31, 2026, and signed by Mrs Agatha Odigie, Permanent Secretary, on behalf of the Edo State Sports Commission, was made in recognition of Ebireguesele’s experience in competitive weightlifting and commitment to sports development.

The Commission expressed confidence that her wealth of experience and passion for sport would contribute to the growth of weightlifting and the wider sporting sector in the state.

Ebireguesele brings an impressive international record to the board, having represented Nigeria at several major championships.

She won bronze in the women’s 69kg category at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, with a combined lift of 215kg, comprising 95kg in the snatch and 120kg in the clean and jerk.

Three years later, she claimed gold in the same category at the 2013 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Penang, Malaysia, with another total of 215kg.

At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, Ebireguesele improved her performance to win silver after recording a combined lift of 222kg — 100kg in the snatch and 122kg in the clean and jerk.

She finished behind Cameroon’s Marie Fegue, who lifted 234kg, while Canada’s Marie-Josée Arès-Pilon took bronze with 214kg.

Her appointment is expected to provide the Edo State Weightlifting Association with valuable insight into athlete preparation, training, discipline and the standards required to compete successfully at international level.

As the state intensifies efforts to strengthen grassroots sports, talent identification and athlete development pathways, Ebireguesele is expected to play a role in identifying and mentoring emerging weightlifting talents.

Her experience as a former elite athlete could also help bridge the gap between competitors and administrators by bringing greater attention to the practical challenges athletes encounter in training and competition.

The appointment gives Edo State an opportunity to harness the experience of a former national athlete with proven success on the international stage in developing the next generation of weightlifters.