Badminton
NIGERIA’S SPORTS MINISTER, SUNDAY DARE CONGRATULATES OBY SOLAJA ON AFRICAN WOMEN IN BADMINTON AWARD
Nigeria’s Youth and Sports Development Minister Sunday Dare has heaped praises on Mrs. Obiageli Solaja following the honour bestowed on her as the recipient of the 2019 African Women in Badminton Award.
The Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA), bestowed the Award.
She becomes the second recipient of the award, following that of Gretha Prinsloo of South Africa who received the 2018 award last year during the BCA Annual General Meeting in Nanning China.
The honour will be bestowed at the BCA Annual General Meeting 2020 at a date to be fixed later due to the current COVID-19 global pandemic.
Dare remarked: “I wish to register my profound congratulations to one of Nigeria’s pioneer International Badminton players Mrs. Oby Solaja for her recognition as the winner of the prestigious BCA award.
This honour is not only well deserved, but symbolic. Coming at a time when Nigeria has shown commitment to the development of Badminton makes it special.
“This award is not just for you, but one that has made every Nigerian proud. This is reward of your commitment, hard work and dedication as a pioneer badminton player, coach and administrator.
“Indeed, it an honour well deserved. I urge you not to relent in using your pole position in the game to further develop the sport in our country.
“This is also a recognition of the sterling leadership of the President of the Badminton President Francis Orbih who has displayed astute leadership,” Dare remarked.
Oby Solaja, a seven-time African Women’s champion and 10-time Nigeria national champion in her playing days is one of the pioneers of badminton at the Olympics.
Last November, when the IOC president, Thomas Bach visited Nigeria and met with the country’s Olympians in Abuja, he took time to congratulate Solaja as one of the players when badminton first featured as a medal event at the Olympics in 1996.
According to the BCA in a letter dated 18th April 2020, conveying the award to Solaja, the award is meant “to celebrate outstanding women in Africa who have contributed to the development of badminton in Africa by demonstrating irreproachable attitude and dedication to the sport in their respective fields.”
Michel T. Bau, President of the BCA and Meneoang Leshota, Chairperson, Women in Badminton, jointly signed the letter.
“Her enormous contributions to the success of the 2019 All Africa Senior Championships in April, 2019 held in Port Harcourt, Nigeria” was given as one of the reasons for her choice as an awardee.
“This along with her commitment to her assigned tasks and dedication to the overall success of the tournament from the initial planning stages of the championship to its completion.
“Her choice was also based on her career long achievements as a female badminton player in Nigeria and Africa when, as nee Oby Edoga, she won three gold medals in the Africa Senior Championships in 1996; Women’s Singles, Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles.
Her qualification for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, is a landmark. She became one of the first three female badminton players in Africa to participate in the badminton event at the Olympics.
The other two from Mauritius are Martine de Souza and Marie-Josephe Jean Pierre.
Since her retirement as a player, Solaja has been developing herself in sports marketing and administration leading her to attend the 2006 Sportel in Monaco, France as a non-exhibitor as well as attending the FIFA/CIES Diploma course in Sports Management at Cairo University, Egypt in 2011/2012.
Her foray continued after retirement where she continued to support the development of badminton in Nigeria as a coach, and later as an administrator.
She is a member of the Board of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), where she is the zonal representative of the Southeast zone of the country. She is also the Chairperson of the Events Planning and Organizing Sub-committee of the BFN.
Reacting to the award, the President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbih, expressed joy at the wonderful news coming at this very difficult time.
He said he was not surprised at all by the development. ”Mrs. Obiageli Solaja, nee Edoga deserves and merits this great honour which is the first time ever that any such honour is bestowed on a Nigerian player/administrator.
“It is a well deserved reward for hard work which will definitely spur her to put in more efforts towards the development of the game in Nigeria and Africa.
“This award will also inspire and motivate women in badminton to do more towards the development of the game knowing that their contribution will be recognised and rewarded in due course.” He said.
Orbih further stressed “The fact that her award is coming within the same month of the upgrade of Nigeria’s Naomi Oyinloye as a Certificated BCA Umpire means a lot to us.
“It epitomises progress and development, which is one of the major goals of this Board. “
Francis Orbih has been re-elected President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) for a third consecutive term, emerging unopposed at the federation’s elective congress held in Abuja.
Orbih secured all 13 votes cast during the congress, which took place at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium on Monday, March 2. Adamu Alhaji Lawan was also elected as Vice President.
In his acceptance speech, Orbih congratulated the newly elected board members and expressed confidence in their ability to collectively move Nigerian badminton to greater heights.
“I want to congratulate the entire board member and I am confident that we are going to deliver,” Orbih said.
“There is a lot of work to be done. We have had humble achievements in the past. It is time for us to build on what we have achieved and consolidate to take the Federation to greater heights.”
Calling for unity and collaboration, Orbih urged stakeholders to play active roles in strengthening the federation’s programmes and expanding the sport’s reach across the country.
“I am counting on all of you to have your hands on deck because I cannot do it alone. Let us join hands to take the Federation to a level where we’ll be the envy of other sporting federations in Nigeria,” he added. “We have work to do. Whatever you can contribute to the growth and development of the Federation.”
During the inauguration of the new board, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, congratulated Orbih on his re-election and commended the federation for conducting a crisis-free electoral process.
National Sports Commission chairman, Shehu Dikko adresses the new board of the BFN
“I want to congratulate the board members for unanimously re-electing Francis Orbih and having a crisis-free election,” Dikko said.
He urged the president to consolidate on the gains recorded during his previous tenures and to intensify efforts over the next four years.
“Orbih has done well and deserves to be re-elected as a member of the African and World body. He has taken on huge debt by presenting himself as President of BFN, and he doesn’t have any other choice than to continue his good works,” Dikko added.
Orbih’s re-election is expected to provide continuity in the federation’s administration as it seeks to expand grassroots development, improve Nigeria’s international competitiveness and strengthen its presence within continental and global badminton bodies.
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The 2019 Africa Women in Badminton Award winner, Oby Solaja, has been returned for another four-year tenure in the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), reaffirming her enduring influence in the sport’s development.
Solaja’s re-election came during the BFN zonal election held in Enugu, where she emerged as the representative for the South East zone. Delegates affirmed her return in recognition of what officials described as her meritorious contributions to grassroots badminton development across the region.
A former multiple African champion, Solaja was among the global pioneering badminton players to feature at the Olympic Games, carving her name into the sport’s history before transitioning into administration.
Oby Solaja receives a new mandate to contribute to the development of badminton in Nigeria.
After retiring from competitive play, she equipped herself for sports governance by completing the six-module sports administration programme for the CIES/FIFA diploma at Cairo University — a move that strengthened her credentials in sports organisation and leadership.
Grassroots Focus in the Southeast
Over the past four years, Solaja has championed badminton development in Southeastern Nigeria through an annual championship organised in partnership with the Bet9ja Foundation. The tournament, held on a rotational basis across states in the region, has provided a competitive platform for emerging talents and reinforced grassroots participation.
Enugu State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Lloyd Ikechukwu Ekweremadu chats with the Southeast Badminton Championship Convener, Oby Edoga-Solaja
Her efforts have been widely credited with expanding the sport’s reach and encouraging youth engagement in badminton within the zone.
Speaking after her confirmation, Solaja pledged renewed vigour in spreading what she described as the “gospel of badminton,” emphasising continuity, talent discovery and structured development pathways.
She also expressed appreciation to Kunle Soname, whose Bet9ja Foundation has supported the propagation of badminton in the Southeast.
With her fresh mandate, stakeholders expect Solaja to consolidate existing programmes while strengthening institutional structures within the federation — a continuation of a journey that began on the court and now thrives in the boardroom.
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The Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) has etched its name in Nigerian sporting history after its para-badminton star, Eniola Bolaji, rose to World No. 1 in the women’s SL3 category, thus becoming the first athlete under any affiliate of the National Sports Commission to attain the top spot in global rankings.
The latest rankings released on Tuesday, February 17, by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) confirmed Bolaji’s ascent to the summit following her historic silver medal finish at the 2026 World Para Badminton Championship in Bahrain.
Historic Rise After World Championship Silver
Bolaji secured her place in history after advancing to the final of the global showpiece, held at the New Capital Hall in Bahrain on February 14. She eventually fell 2–0 (21–12, 21–17) to Japan’s world No. 7, Shino Kawai, but her runner-up finish earned her enough ranking points to dethrone Indonesia’s Qonitah Ikhtiar Syakuroh as world number one.
In the process, Bolaji also became the first African athlete to win a silver medal at the World Para Badminton Championship. This is a milestone that underscores Nigeria’s growing footprint in para-sports.
Her ranking surge was further strengthened by her triumph at the Egypt International in January, where she successfully defended her title for the second consecutive year.
Landmark Moment for Nigerian Sport
President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbih, described Bolaji’s achievement as a defining moment for Nigerian and African sports.
“This is the biggest news of the year, Eniola Bolaji claiming the World No. 1 spot following her participation in the 2024 Paralympic Games. She would likely have attained this position earlier if she had competed in more tournaments last year,” Orbih said.
“She regained full stability last season and has carried that momentum into this year, already featuring in two major tournaments with outstanding performances.”
Bolaji’s achievement places the BFN ahead of other federations under the National Sports Commission in producing a world number one athlete, which is a testament to what observers describe as deliberate investment, structured athlete development, and sustained technical support within the federation.
Powered by GIG, Eniola Bolaji has attained an enviable height
Structured Support Paying Dividends
Orbih credited the progress of para-badminton in Nigeria to coordinated backing from multiple stakeholders.
“This achievement is also a testament to the support and resources committed to para badminton by the National Sports Commission, the Abia State Government, and GIG Logistics. Their continued backing has created the enabling environment for our athletes to train, compete, and excel on the global stage,” he noted.
Despite narrowly missing out on gold in Bahrain, the BFN President praised Bolaji’s resilience and consistency at the elite level.
“I know many Nigerians were expecting another gold medal, but we must recognise that other players are equally determined to dethrone her. She has now become the first African to win a silver medal at the Para-Badminton World Championship,” Orbih added.
A New Benchmark for Nigerian Federations
Bolaji’s ascent to the top of the global rankings marks more than a personal triumph; it signals a structural breakthrough for Nigerian sport.
For decades, Nigerian athletes have achieved continental dominance and occasional global podium finishes, but reaching World No. 1 status — particularly in a ranking-driven sport governed by transparent international metrics — represents a new benchmark.
As Bolaji prepares for upcoming tournaments, the federation has pledged continued technical and logistical support to sustain her dominance.
With a World No. 1 athlete now flying Nigeria’s flag, the Badminton Federation of Nigeria has set a new standard — not only for para-sport development, but for all federations under the National Sports Commission aspiring to global excellence.
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