By Suleiman Abdulmumin
The Board of the Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF) has expressed its full confidence in the leadership of its President, Dr. Musa Oshodi, praising his contributions to the development and repositioning of judo in Nigeria.
The decision was reached during the Federation’s statutory board meeting held online on Monday, August 18, 2026. The motion for the vote of confidence was moved by the NJF Vice-President III and Technical Director, Omo Oba Segun Gbayi.
The board’s decision comes on the heels of Nigeria’s historic bronze medal at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, where Enku Ekuta finished on the podium in the women’s -63kg category.
Ekuta’s achievement brought an end to Nigeria’s 24-year wait for a Commonwealth Games medal in judo. The country’s previous medal came at the Manchester 2002 Games through Alice Livinus.
The board said the recent success was the result of sustained efforts to strengthen the sport at grassroots level, improve athletes’ preparation and welfare, and provide Nigerian judokas with greater opportunities to compete internationally.
It also highlighted the transparent trials conducted in Abuja ahead of the Commonwealth Games, describing them as an important step in giving athletes a fair opportunity to earn national selection.
According to the board, improved training camps, international exposure and better support for athletes have also contributed to the stronger performances being recorded by Nigerian judokas.
The Federation further pointed to Nigeria’s consistent performances at the African Judo Championships, including Ekuta’s gold medal in 2020 and silver medal in 2019, as evidence of the progress being made under the current administration.
The board described Ekuta’s Commonwealth Games medal as more than just an individual achievement, saying it represents a major boost for Nigerian judo and should serve as encouragement for greater investment in athlete development, grassroots programmes and high-performance sports.
It reaffirmed its determination to sustain the momentum as Nigeria prepares for future international competitions, including the 2028 Olympic Games and African Games.
Responding to the vote of confidence, Dr. Oshodi expressed appreciation to the board for its support. He dedicated Ekuta’s achievement to Nigerian judokas, coaches and other stakeholders whose efforts continue to contribute to the growth of the sport.
He also pledged to build on the progress already recorded and continue working towards making judo one of Nigeria’s most reliable sources of medals at major international competitions.