Adeniyi Vows to “Be Bold and Intentional” as Nigeria Wrestling Federation Begins New Era of Athlete Welfare Reform

Newly elected President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), Adeniyi Adewale, has pledged a sweeping transformation of athlete welfare and development, promising that his administration will be “bold, intentional and uncompromising” in fixing long-standing structural problems within the sport.

Adeniyi, who secured an overwhelming mandate from federation delegates, said his leadership is determined to end the era where Nigerian wrestlers train under harsh conditions, struggle with logistics and lack proper career support despite consistently winning medals for the nation.

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Speaking after donating a brand-new federation bus to ease transportation challenges — his first official act as president — Adeniyi declared that the NWF must now become a model federation in Nigeria, placing athletes at the centre of every policy decision.

According to him, the welfare of wrestlers is not a privilege but a right, noting that Nigeria has lost too many promising talents due to neglect, poor planning and the absence of structured support systems. He revealed that the new board is already designing a “career pathway programme” that will help athletes transition smoothly into coaching, education, business or administrative roles once their competitive careers end.

Adeniyi also promised to strengthen relationships with international partners, expand grassroots tournaments and revamp coaching education nationwide. He said the federation will aggressively pursue sponsorships to reduce reliance on government funding, stressing that athletes should never again miss competitions due to avoidable financial issues.

The NWF boss added that Nigerian wrestling has the potential to dominate Africa and become a global powerhouse if properly invested in. “Our athletes have been winning despite the difficulties; imagine what they can achieve when the system works for them,” he said.

Adeniyi concluded by urging Nigerians to expect immediate changes, assuring that the new leadership will prioritise transparency, professionalism and sustainable development to usher in a golden era for wrestling in the country.