Tag: Olumide Oyedeji

The President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Engr.  Ahmadu Musa Kida, on behalf of the Federation and the extended Nigeria basketball family, has felicitated with former Nigeria International,  Olumide Oyedeji, on his election as the Secretary-General of the World Olympians Association.

Oyedeji, who is a member of the NBBF Board and a former captain of D’Tigers, emerged as the new Secretary from an election held on Sunday.

The NBBF letter to Oyedeji, dated 20 January 2026 and signed by Musa Kida, reads: “Dear Mr. Oyedeji, May I, on behalf of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, congratulate you on your election as the Secretary General of the World Olympians Association (WOA).

Read Also: Prosperity Cup partners Barcelona FC ahead of 2026 tournament

 “Your election is a well-deserved one, considering your unwavering commitment to the welfare of Olympians, especially in Nigeria.

 “We believe that this position is a testament to your hard work, dedication, and passion for athletes in sports, and we are quite excited to see one of our own lead and contribute his quota to the World Olympians Association (WOA).

 “We are also sure that you will inspire and motivate the Youth to excel in their chosen sports and that you will make a significant impact in this, your new role as Secretary-General of WOA.

 “Please warmly accept the assurance of our best wishes for a successful tenure!”

Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel, President of the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC), has officially congratulated Olumide Oyedeji on his election as the Secretary-General of the World Olympians Association (WOA).

​Oyedeji, who serves as the 3^rd  Vice President of the NOC and President of the Nigeria Olympians Association (NOA), secured the position in a landslide victory during a virtual General Assembly held in Sunday.

Oyedeji won on the first ballot with 55 votes, comfortably defeating his closest opponents, Salvador Salguero of El Salvador and Liston Brochette of Puerto Rico, who received 32 and 19 votes, respectively.

A statement released by Tony Nezianya, the Public Relations Officer of NOC, noted that the election involved over 107 delegates from National Olympians Associations (NOAs) across the globe.

The WOA is a prestigious body under the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Read Also: Osimhen-Lookman Row: NFF  dismisses ruckus in Super  Eagles’ camp

It is notably the same constituency that produced the newly elected IOC President, Kirsty Coventry (the legendary Zimbabwean swimmer and two-time Olympic gold medallist).

Olumide Oyedeji’s ascent to this global role reinforces Nigeria’s growing influence within the International Olympic Committee.

As a former NBA star and captain of the Nigerian men’s basketball team (D’Tigers), Oyedeji has long been a vocal advocate for athlete welfare.

His election comes at a time of “African excellence” in sports governance, following Kirsty Coventry’s historic election as the first female and first African President of the IOC in 2025.

Only recently, one of Nigeria’s star table tennis prodigies, Funke Oshonaike, was nominated by the IOC president, Christy Coventry, to join the Athletes Commission.

Nigeria’s profile in global sports governance has received a major boost following the election of Olumide Oyedeji as Secretary General of the World Olympians Association (WOA).

The National Sports Commission (NSC)  has congratulated the former Nigeria international basketball star, describing his emergence as a proud moment for the country and a landmark achievement for Africa.

Oyedeji becomes the first African to hold the influential position in the history of the World Olympians Association.

The election took place at the WOA Annual General Meeting on Sunday, where Oyedeji defeated two other candidates in a keenly contested race.

He polled 55 votes, representing 51.88 per cent of the total, ahead of Salvador Salguero of El Salvador, who garnered 32 votes, and Puerto Rico’s Liston Bochette, who received 19 votes.

In its congratulatory message, the NSC said Oyedeji’s victory was well deserved and a reflection of his years of dedicated service, integrity and commitment to sports development and athlete welfare at both national and international levels.

Read Also: Super Eagles rank among Africa’s top three after AFCON exploits

Director General of the NSC, Honourable Bukola Olopade, hailed the former basketball captain as a worthy ambassador of Nigeria and the Olympic movement.

 “Olumide Oyedeji’s election as Secretary General of the World Olympians Association is a proud moment for Nigeria and a clear recognition of his integrity, leadership, and lifelong service to sport and athlete welfare,” Olopade said.“

“He has consistently represented our nation with distinction, both on and off the court, and we are confident he will uphold the values of the Olympic movement while flying the Nigerian flag with pride on the global stage.”

Reacting to his election, Oyedeji expressed gratitude to Nigerian sports authorities for their continued support, pledging to serve with dedication and uphold the country’s image globally.

 “I use this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to the DG and the Chairman of the National Sports Commission for the support they have continued to render to me and all others who strive to put our country’s name on the world sporting map,” Oyedeji said.

“I further promise to do my best to uphold the name of our country at all times.”

One of Nigeria’s most decorated basketball figures, Oyedeji captained the national team during a golden era and played a key role in the country’s rise on the continental stage.

He captained the team that won Nigeria’s first AfroBasket title in Tunisia in 2015 and claimed silver medals at the FIBA Africa Nations Cup in 1997, 1999 and 2003.

He also led Team Nigeria to its first-ever gold medal in basketball at the 2011 All Africa Games in Maputo.

Beyond his playing career, Oyedeji has remained a prominent figure in sports administration.

He currently serves as President of the Nigeria Olympians Association (NOA), 3^rd  Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), and Chairman of the Nigeria Athletes Commission, where he continues to champion athlete representation, development and welfare.

With his election into the WOA leadership, Oyedeji’s journey from the basketball court to the global sports boardroom stands as another milestone for Nigerian sport.

Former NBA star and President of the Nigeria Olympians Association (NOA), Olumide Oyedeji, has praised  the Super Eagles after their rousing finish to the AFCON campaign, declaring them “champions in the eyes of every Nigerian.”

Nigeria signed off in style, outmuscling continental giants Egypt, led by Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah to clinch the ‘golden bronze’ in a tense third-place playoff decided by penalties.

Oyedeji described the Eagles’ display as fearless, focused and worthy of celebration.

“You stood tall against one of Africa’s best. This team showed character, belief and heart,” Oyedeji told First ZealMediaCast Blog,

The former NBA star  reserved special praise for goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, whose heroics between the sticks proved decisive. Nwabali saved two penalties, silencing Egypt’s stars and swinging momentum firmly in Nigeria’s way.

“Nwabali is a true champion,” Oyedeji declared. “Those saves were not luck, they were courage under pressure.”

From the penalty spot, Nigeria’s mental strength told the story. While Egypt blinked, missing early through Salah and Omar Marmoush, the Super Eagles stayed ice-cold.

Read Also: Morocco 2025:  NFF launches NAIJA 4 THE WIN campaign for Super Eagles

When Ademola Lookman stepped up and buried the final kick, the dam burst. Players wheeled away. Fans roared. Nigeria had made its statement. It was more than a third-place finish. It was a reminder of resilience, pride and belief.

Oyedeji also urged the team to build on the momentum ahead of the next AFCON, stressing the need for early preparation to ensure Nigeria goes all the way next time.

He further applauded the National Sports Commission, praising the progressive leadership of Mallam Shehu Dikko and Director General, Chief Honourable Bukola Olopade, for their support of Nigerian sports.

The verdict from Oyedeji was clear, this Super Eagles team may have won bronze but in spirit, they soared like champions.

Former D’Tigers captain and NBA star, Olumide Oyedeji, has hailed the ongoing 9th National Youth Games in Asaba, describing it as a platform capable of shaping the future of Nigerian sports.

Speaking with NationSport, Oyedeji expressed delight at the level of participation and enthusiasm displayed by athletes from across the country.

 “So far so good, I am very happy and excited to see that the National Youth Games is in full swing. I must give kudos to all the states that are participating in this edition,” he said.

The ex-NBA star, however, stressed the importance of complementing competitions with mentorship programmes that would prepare athletes for life beyond sports.

 “I would have loved a situation where we are having the competition maybe in January where there would also be a day off for mentorship of the athletes. It goes beyond just sports. Opportunities like that could prepare them for life after sports and help them take the step that will take sports to the next level,” he noted.

Read Also: Jalla carpets NSC, NFF on ‘no show’  at Rufai’s burials

Oyedeji, who admitted to feeling a bit envious of the opportunities available to today’s budding athletes, said his excitement stemmed from the fact that they now have the chance he never enjoyed. “I kind of get a little bit jealous because when I was young, I never had this kind of opportunity. That is why I am excited and happy for them that they have the opportunity that will get them ready for the future,” he added.

He also challenged the National Sports Commission to build on the model provided by the Games to further empower young athletes. “I want to implore the National Sports Commission to use this model to motivate the young athletes and empower them and make them know that to be superstars, you must work hard to achieve that,” he advised.

Beyond the Youth Games, Oyedeji called for the revival of secondary school sports and the improvement of sports infrastructure nationwide.

 “Besides this, we need to get back to secondary school sports. We need to work on our sports infrastructure,” he concluded.

The fourth edition of the Rising Stars Basketball Championship is set for July 2025. Organised by the Olumide Oyedeji Youth Foundation, the championship will promote grassroots basketball in Nigeria by identifying young talent early and offering a platform for skill development and exposure.

According to the founder and former NBA player Olumide Oyedeji, the 2025 edition will target under-17 players nationwide. He revealed that the championship aims not only to improve players’ technical abilities but also to instil discipline, teamwork, and leadership through structured training and mentorship.

“This year’s edition will bring together some of the best young prospects from all regions of Nigeria,” Oyedeji said. “We are committed to using basketball to empower youth, promote education, and build future leaders on and off the court.”

Read Also: Otti  woos investors for proposed  Abia Stadium City

Reeling out the impacts of the past editions, Olumide revealed that the Most Valuable Player of the last edition, Ikenna Alozie at Dream City Christian, Arizona, is currently the number one High School player and 5-star High School player in the United States of America. Another beneficiary of the championship was Sulaimon Azeez, a junior national team member for Nigeria who currently plays in France.”

“With over 15 beneficiaries playing outside Nigeria, we have Samson Masebinu, who was part of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Academy. He is also part of the Petro Luanda of Angola’s team competing at the 2025 Basketball Africa League.

The first edition was held in Akure while the second and third editions were held in Lagos. Lagos won the first edition for boys while Ogun State claimed the U-13 boys’ title. Oyo State emerged champions in the U-13 girls’ category. In the girls’ U-17 category, Lagos emerged as champions.

Eighteen teams will compete in the final of the 2025 Olumide Oyedeji Intercollegiate 3×3 Basketball Championship, scheduled for June 19–21 at the National Stadium, Lagos.

After weeks of zonal qualifiers involving over 100 institutions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, the final 18 teams will battle for the title of “King of 3×3” in Lagos.

From the North West, Ahmadu Bello University and Bayero University, Kano qualified. The North Central will be represented by Federal University of Technology, Minna; Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai; and College of Education, Minna. Representing the North East are College for Legal Studies, Yola; Federal College of Education, Yola; and American University of Nigeria, Yola.

Read Also: NFF conducted Federation Cup draw fairly, says Aluo

The South West will be represented by Obafemi Awolowo University, Lead City University, and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology. From the South East, Caritas University, Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu, and University of Nigeria, Nsukka qualified. They will be joined by South South representatives: University of Benin, Ambrose Alli University, and Dennis Osadebay University.

Founder of the tournament and Nigeria Basketball Federation board member, Olumide Oyedeji, said the initiative aims to grow the culture of 3×3 basketball in Nigeria.

The 23^rd  edition of the annual Olumide Oyedeji Basketball Camp will commence on Monday, 26th of August.

The camp is organised by former captain of Nigeria Senior men’s national basketball team, Olumide Oyedeji’s Youth Foundation.

Over 40,000 participants over the last two decades have featured in the camp with this year’s edition holding at the National Stadium Surulere for SIX  days between August 26^th and 31^st .

Read Also: Leicester sign midfielder Skipp from Tottenham

Since its first edition year 2000  till date, the camp has produced notable talents both male and female, playing in majors leagues across the world including the NBA, NCAA, Euroleague, Asia, Afrobasket Champions and Olympians .

The camp is open to young people of all ages between  2 and 18.