NWF President, Ibrahim Abdul.
By Dianabasi Effiong
The Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF) says its success story in the outgoing year, including the performances of its athletes in national, regional, and international competitions, is unprecedented.
The Federation’s success story was made known by its President, Ibrahim Abdul, in a statement by the Media Officer, Amaechi Agbo, on Jan. 5.
The NWF President also expressed his appreciation to the National Sports Commission (NSC), the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), the Media, the federation’s board members, coaches, referees, and athletes for their support of the weightlifting sport in 2025.
He said, “The year 2025 was a good one for us in the weightlifting family because we invested a lot and had good rewards.
“We participated in regional, continental, and global competitions and held the flag of our nation high.
“We took part in many competitions, including becoming African Champions after conquering the continent during the Senior African Weightlifting Championships held in Mauritius.
“Our athletes excelled in other engagements, including the most recent one being the 4th Africa Youth Games in Launda, Angola, last month.”
According to him, the federation’s success stories in 2025 are products of the immense support it received from the National Sports Commission, the Nigeria Olympic Committee, the Media, and other stakeholders.
“On behalf of the Board of Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, I want to express my appreciation to you all for being there for us in the outgone year.
“We invested and we had returns on investments,” Abdul said.
He added that stakeholders’ support in 2025 encouraged the sport to record medal hauls in regional, continental, and international engagements.
“I want to, first and foremost, thank the Almighty God for granting us the grace to see the New Year 2026,” he said.
The Federation witnessed an exponential increase in the number of medals won in a calendar year by amassing 49 gold, 14 silver, and seven bronze medals across seven regional, continental, and global competitions during the year in focus.
The federation began the year by featuring at the 2025 Senior African Weightlifting Championship in Mauritius from 20th – 28th April.
The contingent returned home as Champions of Africa after amassing a total of 10 gold, four silver, and a bronze medal to top the overall medals table.
At the Africa Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championship in Accra, Ghana held between Aug.15 and Aug. 23, the federation returned home with nine gold medals.
This feat was followed during the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship in India from Aug. 24 to Aug. 30, where the federation showed global dominance by winning four gold, two silver, and three bronze medals.
At the regional level, the federation participated in the 2025 Zone 2 West Africa Games in Bukina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou from Oct. 12 to Oct. 19, where it won nine gold medals.
Nigeria also won a silver medal at the Senior World Weightlifting Championship held between Oct. 2 and Oct. 11 in Forde, Norway
The NWF also participated in the 6th Islamic Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from Nov. 8 to Nov.12 and came back with a bag fully loaded with 13 medals, comprising six gold, four silver, and three bronze.
“The last competition of the year saw young, promising future lifters once again dominate the continent after our lifters went to Luanda in Angola and conquered the countries by winning 12 medals made up of 11 gold and a silver,” Abdul added.
In between these competitions, the federation also held a capacity training programme for the athletes and coaches.
The 10-day training had 30 participants – 22 athletes and eight coaches.
Abdul also stated that the globally sought-after weightlifting coach, Maged Salama, from Austria, coordinated the programme which received commendation from the NSC.
He said, “Another defining moment for weightlifting in 2025 was the conduct of the freest, most peaceful sports federation election in the country.”
The NWF election held on Aug. 16, saw Dr Ibrahim Abdul returned as president to pilot the affairs of the federation for the next four years
“We did a lot, and we could not have achieved this without the massive support of the stakeholders. The year 2026 unfolds with greater vigour to conquer the world. We have shown our superiority in Africa, we need to take it further.
“In the coming days, we will unfold our activities for the year to the media,” the NWF President said.
