RismadarVoice Reporters, May 8, 2026
The second Vice President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Akuchukwu Aghazu, has described Team Nigeria’s performance at the World Relays Championships in Gaborone, Botswana, as a major success story.
Speaking shortly after arriving in Nigeria from Gaborone, Aghazu said the youthful Nigerian contingent, largely made up of home-based athletes, exceeded expectations at the global event.
“The outing of the youthful Team Nigeria dominated by home-based athletes was a huge, huge success story by every indication and benchmark,” she said in a chat with the AFN Media Hub.
Aghazu, popularly known as Aku, credited the team’s impressive showing not only to the athletes’ performances on the track but also to the strong administrative and motivational support provided throughout the championship.
She was among the key officials who stood firmly behind the athletes as Nigeria competed against some of the world’s leading relay nations to secure qualification tickets and reinforce the country’s reputation as a global athletics powerhouse.
Reflecting on the performances, Aghazu expressed confidence in the ability of locally-developed athletes to continue excelling on the international stage.
“I believe the home-grown talents have what it takes to engrave Nigeria’s name in gold,” she stated.
“Yes, we need the overseas-based athletes, but what we have at home are equally good enough to compete with the elite in any part of the world.”
She stressed the need for sustained support and regular competitions to help athletes improve their performances.
“Athletes don’t run sub-10s in the gym or classroom but on the track when they race against each other regularly,” she added.
Aghazu also praised the National Sports Commission for its continued support for athletics development in the country.
“The NSC has been pulling the right strings and backing us. I commend them for their support,” she said.
She further called on state governments across Nigeria to organise major athletics competitions annually to provide more opportunities for grassroots athletes.
“If at least each state of the Federation stages a big meet each year, the home-based athletes will have enough opportunities to improve on their timings and jumps, including throws,” she explained.
According to her, such initiatives would not place excessive financial pressure on the states and the Federal Capital Territory, while also attracting support from the private sector.
“The corporate bodies are willing to put their hands on the plough into sports and fund it well,” Aghazu emphasised.
Meanwhile, Team Nigeria secured three qualification tickets to the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing and also earned a slot for the maiden edition of the World Ultimate Athletics Championships in Budapest scheduled for September.
