The 2024 Paris Olympics brought the global spotlight on numerous athletes with Nigerian roots, who excelled across various disciplines, bringing home medals for their respective adopted nations.
Despite their successes, Nigeria, their country of heritage, struggled to secure a single medal, raising questions about the state of sports development in the nation.
Kemi Adekoya, represented Bahrain in athletics, continuing her dominance on the track. Alongside her, Salwa Eid Naser, also competing for Bahrain, clinched a silver medal, showcasing the impact of talent from the Nigerian diaspora.
Similarly, Yemisi Ogunleye secured a gold medal for Germany in athletics, further emphasizing the contribution of athletes with Nigerian heritage on the global stage.
In basketball, Bam Adebayo, stood tall for the United States, leading his team to gold.
Meanwhile, Annette Echikunwoke, earned a silver medal in athletics, and Chiaka Ogbogu did the same in volleyball, both representing the U.S.
These athletes exemplified the prowess of Nigerian descendants excelling in top-tier global competitions.
The United Kingdom also benefitted from the talents of athletes with Nigerian origins.
Yemi Mary John and Victoria Ohuruogu each earned bronze in athletics, while Lawrence Okoye, Tade Ojora, and Eva Okaro made significant strides in their respective sports.
Their performances underscore the rich athletic potential that could have been nurtured within Nigeria.
In Europe, Samu Omorodion, brought home a gold medal in football for Spain, and Omoruyi O Loveth did the same for Italy in volleyball.
Athletes like Eseosa F. Desalu and Chituru Ali also represented Italy in athletics, while Rhasidat Adeleke of Ireland and Michael Obasuyi of Belgium competed admirably in athletics, further highlighting the widespread influence of Nigerian talent.
Michael Olise, playing football for France, earned a silver medal, while Yvonne Ejim represented Canada in basketball.
Duan Asemota, also representing Canada, competed in athletics, further showcasing the global dispersal of Nigerian talent.
The success of these athletes with Nigerian roots stands in stark contrast to Nigeria’s failure to secure a single medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
It raises critical questions about the state of sports infrastructure, athlete development, and support systems within Nigeria.
While other nations have successfully nurtured and harnessed the potential of Nigerian-descended athletes, the lack of adequate support and development within Nigeria has led to a significant talent drain.
This situation reflects a broader issue within Nigerian sports, where many athletes often seek opportunities abroad due to inadequate training facilities, poor funding, and lack of proper administrative support.
The success of these athletes in foreign nations underscores what could have been for Nigeria had these talents been nurtured at home.
In conclusion, the 2024 Paris Olympics not only highlighted the remarkable achievements of athletes with Nigerian roots but also brought to light the urgent need for Nigeria to reassess its sports development strategies.
By investing in its athletes and providing the necessary support, Nigeria could potentially harness its vast talent pool and return to the global sports stage with renewed vigor and success.
See list of foreign athletes with Nigeria’s root according to Statisense.
Here are the full names of the countries these athletes represent:
Kemi Adekoya – Athletics, Bahrain
Yemisi Ogunleye – Athletics, Germany
Bam Adebayo – Basketball, US
Annette Echikunwoke – Athletics, US
Chiaka Ogbogu – Volleyball, United States
Keturah Orji – Athletics, US
Yemi Mary John – Athletics, UK
Victoria Ohuruogu – Athletics, UK
Lawrence Okoye – Athletics, UK
Tade Ojora – Athletics, UK
Eva Okaro – Swimming, UK
Salwa Eid Naser – Athletics, Bahrain
Samu Omorodion – Football, Spain
Omoruyi O Loveth – Volleyball, Italy
Rhasidat Adeleke – Athletics, Ireland
Eseosa F. Desalu – Athletics, Italy
Chituru Ali – Athletics, Italy
Michael Obasuyi – Athletics, Belgium
Duan Asemota – Athletics, Canada
Yvonne Ejim – Basketball, Canada
Michael Olise – Football, France
