Olopade Excited, Supporters Club To Receive Team In Lagos
Team Nigeria’s contingent of just six weightlifters maintained its top position on the medals table as the events of the 2025 African Senior Weightlifting Championships in Moka, Mauritius, on Friday.
The team, which had four of the weightlifters on the pool of Elite Development and Podium Board set up by the National Sports Commission (NSC), had led the medals from day one of the championships in Mauritius.
Ruth Imoleayo Ayodele dazzled in the women’s 64kg category, completing a clean sweep of the three gold medals in her weight class.
Following suit was Onome Omolola Didihm who was the star of the 55kg division with another triple-gold performance, dominating her weight class from start to finish (three gold medals).
Two-time African Games gold medallist and reigning Commonwealth Games champion, Rafiatu Folashade Lawal, continued her golden streak in the 59kg category. Her lifts of 95kg (snatch) and 118kg (clean and jerk) for a total of 213kg secured another hat-trick of gold medals for Team Nigeria.
In the men’s events, Umoafia Joseph Edidiong powered through the 73kg category with a 147kg snatch to win gold, while narrowly missing out on a gold rush with two silvers in the clean and jerk.
Tuesday Emmanuel contributed to the medal count in the 67kg category, bagging two silver medals and a bronze after a combined lift of 276kg (130kg snatch, 146kg clean & jerk).
To ensure a clear victory, 18-year-old Sarah Ovayioza added three gold in the 76kg category on Friday, lifting a combined total of 237kg in the snatch, clean, and jerk. Her flawless execution earned the nation three more gold medals and drew roaring applause from the crowd as she closed out Nigeria’s campaign in style.
In all, Team Nigeria won the championships with a total of 13 gold, four silver and one bronze medal.
Although the championship continues until April 28, Team Nigeria has concluded its events, proudly leaving the stage with one of the most impressive medal tallies recorded in recent history.
Just before the African weightlifting championships began in Moka, Mauritius, the Director General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, doled out the sum of $3,800 to the athletes and their officials, saying it is a way of motivating the team.
To the President of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, Dr Ibrahim Abdul, the cash motivation by Olopade actually paid off.
Abdul credited the victory in Mauritius to the deliberate and strategic approach of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in revitalising the nation’s sports sector by appointing technocrats to head the NSC.
“By appointing proven technocrats like Mallam Shehu Dikko and Olopade, President Tinubu laid a solid foundation for sustainable growth and prosperity for Nigerian sports,” Abdul said. “The NSC gave us all the support we needed to succeed. When the DG announced thousands of dollars in financial incentives, sat with the athletes, shared meals, and took pictures with them, it wasn’t just symbolic. It was a powerful morale boost for all of them.”
“Our athletes felt truly seen, valued, and supported. Today, they competed like warriors and ready to give their all for the nation. That is the spirit this administration has ignited in Nigerian sports,” Abdul stated.
Meanwhile, Olopade has applauded the athletes and their officials for doing the country proud.
“I am so happy for this wonderful performance by our weightlifters. We went with only six of them and Nigeria was able to top the medals table in Mauritius. These are some of the athletes we are preparing for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland and Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.”
Olopade, who spoke with The Guardian in a telephone chat on Friday, revealed that members of the Nigeria supporters club led by Vincent Okumagba will be at the Mutala Mohammed International airport in Lagos to receive the victorious weightlifters and their officials.
