Adeniyi Preaches Patriotism, Visits Team Nigeria Wrestling Camp Ahead of World Championships
The President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, has urged members of Team Nigeria to display patriotism, commitment and determination as they prepare for the 2026 World Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Adeniyi gave the charge when he visited the Nigerian wrestling team’s training camp in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Thursday, as the federation intensified preparations for the global competition scheduled for October 24th to 1st November
The NWF president said the athletes’ decision to remain in camp despite the October 1 public holiday demonstrated their dedication to national service and their determination to represent Nigeria on the international stage.
He commended the wrestlers for putting aside personal commitments to continue their preparations, describing their presence in camp on a national holiday as a reflection of the patriotic spirit required to excel at the highest level.
Adeniyi urged the athletes to remain focused and disciplined throughout the final phase of their preparations, stressing that their performance in Kazakhstan would be an opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s strength and potential in wrestling.
He charged the wrestlers to approach the championships with confidence and the mentality of athletes capable of producing outstanding results against the world’s best.
The NWF boss said the federation was determined to use the World Championships to make an ambitious statement about the progress and potential of Nigerian wrestling.
According to him, the federation has made deliberate efforts to strengthen preparations for the competition, including providing the athletes with the necessary training environment and support.
“It is also Nigeria’s Independence Day, so I felt this was an opportunity to identify with our athletes. They have been in camp for about two weeks now, preparing for a very important competition in the coming weeks. They will be representing Nigeria at the World Championships in Kazakhstan, and they have been working hard to fine-tune their strategies and get themselves ready for the challenge.”
“We want to support and motivate them to achieve the best possible results for Nigeria in Kazakhstan. Olympic qualification tickets will also be at stake, so this is not just another World Championships.” he said.
Adeniyi expressed the commitment of the federation would be complemented by the dedication of the athletes, noting that success at the global level requires collective responsibility from administrators, coaches and wrestlers.
He encouraged the team to remain united and maintain a high level of team spirit, urging them to draw motivation from the privilege of wearing the Nigerian colours.
The NWF president expressed confidence in the quality and determination of the wrestlers in camp, while calling on them to seize the opportunity to take the wrestling world by surprise with their performances.
He assured the team of the federation’s continued support and urged the athletes to give their best in Astana, saying their efforts would contribute to further strengthening Nigeria’s reputation in international wrestling.
“For the women, where we have a very big chance, we’re going with about 10 of them. For the men, we’re going with three. And then we have our athletes who are also going to be representing them.”
“We want to wish them well, encourage them to remain focused and ensure that they have the support and motivation they need to perform at their best.” Adeniyi added.
Dignitaries present at the visit were UWW Bureau Member, Hon. Daniel Igali, NWF Board member, Alhaji Saleh Ahmadu, OON, Acting Comptroller Federal Operations Unit Zone C, Deputy Comptroller Adaniya Farouk among other officials
