Gadzama, Udo-Obong, Collins make list as NSC constitutes Organizing Committee for 3rd African U18/U20 Athletics Championships
Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medalists, Tafida Gadzama and Enefiok Udo-Obong, 1995 African Games triple jump champion, Rosa Collins are among the 15 individuals named by the National Sports Commission, NSC, into the Organising Committee of the 3rd combined African U18/U20 Athletics Championships, scheduled to hold from July 16 to 20, 2025, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The African U18/U20 Athletics Championship is a premier continental event that brings together over 500 junior athletes from across Africa. With participation expected from 53 countries, the championship is a major event in the African athletics calendar.
Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, will serve as Chairman of the Committee, while the Ogun State Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Wasiu Isiaka, has been appointed Vice Chairman.
Gadzama, a product of the Championships in 1997 (won the 400m gold in 46.38 at the African U20 Championships in Ibadan, Oyo state) is also the first vice president of the AFN while Collins, who made history as the first woman to win the African Games triple jump title is the second vice president of the outgoing board of the Federation.
Also listed are a former Secretary General of the AFN, Mrs Maria Worphil while Shagaya Abdulmumeen will serve as the Secretary of the Committee.
According to Hon. Olopade, hosting the 3rd edition of championship reflects the new direction of sports under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, positioning Nigeria as a destination for international sporting events.
He further attributed the successful bid to host the championship to the availability of world-class sports infrastructure in Ogun State. The state’s MKO Abiola Sports Complex, upgraded for the Gateway Games, was a key factor in securing the hosting rights.
‘The Sports facilities in Abeokuta are world class and hosting the U18/U20 African Championships is one of the benefits of hosting the National Sports Festival and I must once again thank the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, for his Sporting Vision,’ he added.
Nigeria came second in the 2nd edition of the combined championships held two years ago in Ndola, Zambia in both the U18 and U20 categories behind South Africa.
Paris 2024 Olympics 400m finalist, Samuel Ogazi made his continental bow at the championships and he won the U18 200m and 400m titles as a 16 year old.
