By Dorcas Francis Koji
The Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF) Board has unanimously passed a vote of confidence in its President, Dr Musa Oshodi, praising his leadership and efforts to reposition judo in Nigeria.
The resolution was reached on Monday, August 18, during the federation’s statutory board meeting held online. The motion was moved by the federation’s Vice-President 3 and Technical Director, Omo Oba Segun Gbayi.
The vote of confidence comes after Enku Ekuta won a bronze medal in the women’s -63kg category at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, ending Nigeria’s 24-year wait for a Commonwealth Games medal in judo.
Nigeria’s previous medal in the sport came at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, where Alice Livinus secured a podium finish.
In a communiqué, the NJF Board attributed Ekuta’s breakthrough to programmes and policies introduced under Oshodi’s administration.
The federation highlighted the transparent Commonwealth Games trials conducted in Abuja, which produced Ekuta and other qualifiers, as well as improved training camps and increased international exposure for Nigerian judokas.
The Board also pointed to Ekuta’s consistent performances at the African Judo Championships, where she won gold in 2020 and silver in 2019, as evidence of the progress made through the federation’s athlete-centred programmes.
The Board stated that Oshodi’s administration had “repositioned Nigerian judo” through purposeful leadership, accountability and sustained investment in athletes.
It described Ekuta’s Commonwealth medal as evidence that the federation’s development strategy was yielding results and called for increased investment in grassroots judo development and athlete welfare across the country.
The NJF said it would use the renewed momentum to strengthen the sport ahead of major international competitions, including the 2028 Olympic Games and the African Games.
Responding to the vote of confidence, Oshodi dedicated Ekuta’s historic medal to Nigerian judokas, coaches and stakeholders who have contributed to the development of the sport.
He also pledged to consolidate the federation’s recent gains and work towards making judo one of Nigeria’s most consistent medal-winning sports on the international stage.
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