RismadarVoice Reporters, April 29, 2026
The Vice President of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), Coach Lawrence Iquaibom, has been selected to serve as a technical official at two major international competitions scheduled to be held in Ismailia, Egypt, in May 2026.
Iquaibom, who also serves as the Technical Director of the NWF and is a former Olympic silver medalist at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, will officiate at the World Junior Weightlifting Championships slated for May 2 to May 8.
He is also scheduled to officiate at the African Senior Weightlifting Championships, which will take place in the same city from May 10 to May 17.
His appointment to the World Junior Championships was confirmed in a joint letter signed by the President of the International Weightlifting Federation, Mohammed Jaloud, and the General Secretary, José Quiñones.
Similarly, his role at the African Senior Championships was confirmed in a letter dated April 11, 2026, signed by the President of the Weightlifting Federation of Africa, Khaled Mhalhel, and General Secretary Manareddin Eshelli.
In a related development, two athletes from Akwa Ibom State have been included in Team Nigeria’s 10-member contingent for the African Senior Championships in Egypt.
The athletes are Edidiong Umoafia, a bronze medalist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, who will compete in the men’s 71kg category, and Ruth Nyong, who will feature in the women’s 48kg category.
The African Senior Championships will also serve as a qualifying tournament for the 2026 Commonwealth Games scheduled for Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 3, 2026.
