International Women’s Day, observed each year on February 8, celebrates women’s contributions to society and highlights critical issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence against women. The day also honors the social, economic, cultural, and political impact of women worldwide and calls for radical change in how women are treated globally.
As this year’s International Women’s Day is celebrated, seven outstanding Nigerian women in sport are highlighted:
1. **Tobi Amusan** – A specialist in the 100‑metre hurdles, Amusan became Nigeria’s first world champion and world‑record holder at the 2022 World Athletics Championships. She won gold with a record‑breaking 12.12 seconds in the semi‑final and followed it with a wind‑assisted 12.06 seconds in the final. Her achievement has inspired many and earned her worldwide commendation.
2. **Favour Ofili** – At 20, Ofili has represented Nigeria in numerous local and international competitions. She earned her first individual medal, a silver in the women’s 200 m, at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, clocking 22.51 seconds. Ofili is also a Commonwealth Games winner, All‑African Games silver medalist, and has reached the top eight at the World Championships.
3. **Asisat Oshoala** – Oshoala rose to prominence as the Most Valuable Player and top scorer at the 2014 Women’s U‑20 World Cup, where Nigeria finished runners‑up to Germany. In 2015, she was named BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year. She plays for Nigeria’s Super Falcons and FC Barcelona, and is regarded as one of Africa’s greatest female footballers, having won the African Women’s Footballer of the Year award five times.
4. **Mary Osijo** – A weightlifter in the 87 kg category, Osijo represented Nigeria internationally and won bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, lifting a total of 225 kg. She achieved a clean series of attempts in both the snatch and clean & jerk. The 25‑year‑old also secured gold at the 2014 All‑African Games trial and earned a gold and two silvers at the 2020 Edo State Sports Festival.
5. **Chiamaka Nnadozie** – As a goalkeeper for Paris FC in France’s Division 1 Féminine and the Nigerian national team, Nnadozie made history at 19 by becoming the youngest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet at a World Cup, during Nigeria’s 2–0 win over Korea at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She was later nominated for the 2021/2022 UNFP best goalkeeper award in the D1 Arkema league.
6. **Desire Oparanozie** – Oparanozie, a forward for Wuhan Jianghan University in the Chinese Women’s Super League, has been a mainstay of the Super Falcons since 2010. She has played in three FIFA Women’s World Cups (2011, 2015, 2019) and four African Women’s Championships (2010, 2014, 2016, 2018), winning all four tournaments and scoring decisive goals in the 2014 and 2016 finals.
7. **Odunayo Adekuoroye** – A freestyle wrestler competing in the 53 kg class, Adekuoroye won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and repeated the feat in 2018 and 2022, securing her third successive Commonwealth title in Birmingham. She also earned a bronze medal at the 2015 World Wrestling Championships.
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