Nigeria's athletics ecosystem is experiencing a remarkable revival, with home-based athletes emerging as the driving force behind the country's resurgence on the continental and global stage.
Over the past 12 months, locally based athletes have played a central role in restoring Nigeria's status as one of Africa's leading athletics nations.
Their outstanding performances at major regional and international competitions have highlighted the depth of talent being developed within the country and demonstrated the effectiveness of ongoing investment in grassroots and elite athlete development.
One of the defining moments of this resurgence came during Nigeria's qualification campaign for the World Athletics Relays Championships in Gaborone, Botswana.
Determined to return Nigeria to the forefront of global relay competition, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), with the unwavering support of the National Sports Commission (NSC), implemented an ambitious competition and preparation programme.
The initiative enabled athletes to compete in three major national and international events as part of the build-up to the World Relays.
The strategic investment yielded impressive results, as Team Nigeria secured qualification in six relay events for the World Athletics Relays Championships, underlining the nation's growing strength and competitiveness in relay racing.
Nigeria's success story continued in Botswana, where the country's relay teams once again rose to the occasion. Their impressive performances earned three relay qualification spots for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in China, reaffirming Nigeria's position among the world's elite relay nations.
Perhaps the most historic achievement came through the mixed relay team. Nigeria became the first African nation to qualify for the Mixed 4x100m Relay event at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship scheduled for Budapest, Hungary, in September.
The landmark feat underscored the country's sprinting pedigree and the steady progress of its relay development programme.
Even before the World Relays Championships, a predominantly home-based Team Nigeria had announced its arrival on the international stage with an outstanding performance at the Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia.
The athletes displayed remarkable resilience, quality and determination, gaining invaluable experience and confidence ahead of bigger international assignments.
The same positive trend was evident at the CAA Senior Athletics Championships in Accra, Ghana, where home-grown athletes formed the backbone of Team Nigeria. Far from being overawed by the continental stage, they delivered commendable performances that justified the confidence reposed in them by coaches, administrators and stakeholders.
According to the 2nd Vice President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Aku Aghazu, the recent achievements validate the federation's deliberate commitment to developing athletes within the country.
"The true strength of any athletics system is not measured by its stars or elites abroad but by the opportunities made available to athletes training in Nigeria," Aghazu said.
She stressed that home-based athletes remain at the heart of the federation's long-term vision.
"Home-based athletes represent the foundation of Nigeria's athletics future and their development remains a strategic priority for this current board of the AFN."
Aghazu noted that the federation has already commenced initiatives aimed at keeping athletes active throughout the year while identifying outstanding talents for intensive development programmes.
Gladly enough, the AFN hierarchy has long begun implementing programmes designed to keep home-based athletes engaged all year round through competitions, training camps and performance monitoring, while selecting exceptional talents for closed camping, nurturing and intensive coaching.
The federation also acknowledged the collaboration and support of the National Sports Commission during the recent training camp in Asaba, noting that the benefits were immediately evident in Nigeria's performances at the World Relays in Botswana and the African Championships in Accra, Ghana.
Despite financial constraints, Aghazu said the federation remains committed to creating opportunities for athletes based in Nigeria.
"From improved competition structures, to enhanced athlete support, to stronger partnerships with schools and other stakeholders for talent identification and development, to capacity building for coaches and officials, the AFN is primed to ensuring that our home-based athletes are given similar opportunities as their peers abroad."
She further praised the National Sports Commission for its continued support of athletics development.
"The National Sports Commission under the leadership of Mallam Shehu Dikko and Hon. Bukola Olopade remains a trusted and welcome partner."
Aghazu revealed that one of the major infrastructure projects currently underway is the complete refurbishment of the athletics facility in Shagamu, Ogun State.
"Under the NSC, Nigeria is getting a fully refurbished athletics stadium in Shagamu near Babcock University. The university is also coming on board to support our athletes through scholarships and other developmental opportunities. The NSC has equally assisted greatly in ensuring that our home-based athletes gain more exposure to international competitions.”
She disclosed that, for the first time in many years, prize money will be introduced at the National Trials specifically for home-based athletes and a number of outstanding coaches as part of efforts to encourage excellence and reward performance.
At the heart of this success story is the Athletics Federation of Nigeria's deliberate and sustained commitment to talent identification and development.
Through targeted programmes and strategic exposure opportunities, the federation has continued to nurture a new generation of athletes across track and field events.
Among the athletes who have benefitted from the initiative are rising stars such as Chidera Ezeakor, Tejiri Godwin, Miracle Ezechukwu, Maria Thompson, Rosemary Nwankwo, Nathaniel Samson, Sikiru Adeyemi, Asuquo Ezekiel, Esther Okon, Gafari Badmus and Toheebat Jimoh.
"We selected these athletes and exposed them to modern track and field training methods. The results have been excellent. The federation is going all out to improve on the process and keep our athletes back home busy through regular competitions and camping. It is a new beginning for the AFN and it requires all the support it can get, including corporate sponsorships and strategic partnerships."
The abundance of emerging talent has also attracted growing international attention. Leading universities in the United States and some of the world's top athletics clubs are increasingly looking to Nigeria as a source of elite athletic talent, offering scholarships and professional development opportunities to promising young athletes.
To ensure these opportunities align with Nigeria's long-term objectives, the AFN's Performance Director and Technical Committee have maintained close oversight of athlete development pathways, providing guidance and support while helping athletes maximise opportunities abroad.
Equally significant has been the renewed support from the National Sports Commission. The timely release of funds, consistent athlete grants and enhanced institutional backing have enabled programmes to run more efficiently and allowed athletes to focus fully on training and competition.
For the first time in more than a decade, the NSC and AFN have also reintroduced structured periodic camping programmes for elite home-based athletes. These camps have created a conducive environment for training, performance monitoring and preparation for major international competitions.
The impact of these initiatives is already evident.
From relay qualification successes and World Championship berths to continental medals and historic milestones, home-based athletes have become the cornerstone of a new era of optimism and achievement in Nigerian athletics.
Aghazu believes the future of the sport will ultimately be determined by how effectively the country develops talent at home.
"The future of Nigerian athletics will not be built in, nor rely solely on, international training camps. It will be built on the tracks, fields, schools and communities across Nigeria, from Anambra to Lagos, Kaduna to Akwa Ibom, Ogun State to Edo State, where talented young athletes are given the opportunity to dream, develop and succeed."
She added that while challenges remain, the federation is encouraged by the progress already achieved.
"While challenges are many, progress should be seen as a continuous marathon journey rather than a destination. The AFN, with the support of the NSC, is already making headway and is hard at work putting measures in place to make that success home-grown and sustainably nurtured."
With an expanding pool of talented young athletes, improved funding mechanisms, strengthened technical support systems and a clearly defined development pathway, the future of Nigerian athletics has rarely looked brighter.
The achievements of the past 12 months provide compelling evidence that Nigeria's next generation of athletics stars is not only emerging but is already making a significant impact on the global stage.
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