By Joel Ajayi
Presidential aspirant for the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF), Margaret Elizabeth Binga, has reiterated her determination to restore Nigeria’s glory in taekwondo and ensure the nation’s athletes win medals at major international championships, including the Olympics.
Binga made this known on Thursday while appearing before the Electoral Committee of the National Sports Commission (NSC) to present her manifesto ahead of the forthcoming federation elections.
A seasoned athlete, administrator, and international referee, Binga described taekwondo as an inseparable part of her life and identity.
“Taekwondo is me. Whatever I am today is because of this sport. I know the pain, and I know the game,” she said. “As someone who has been an athlete, an administrator, and a referee, I have a stake in this sport. When I see things not going as they should, it pushes me to return and complete the work I started.”
Expressing concern over Nigeria’s decline in global taekwondo, Binga lamented the country’s absence from medal podiums in recent years, especially when compared to other African nations that once looked up to Nigeria for guidance and training.
“It hurts me when I see countries like Egypt—who used to come here to train and even spar with our athletes—now winning gold and silver medals at major championships, while we struggle to win even one medal at the Olympics,” she said.
Outlining her plans, Binga stressed the need for increased participation in international ranking tournaments to help Nigerian athletes earn valuable Olympic qualification points and improve the country’s global ranking.
“We must send our athletes to ranking tournaments so they can accumulate Olympic points. Even if we don’t qualify directly, better rankings will give us stronger placements and opportunities in future events,” she explained.
On her leadership style, Binga described herself as a fighter who is driven by faith, resilience, and a passion for progress.
“When it comes to trust, I trust only in God. I’m a fighter—no retreat, no surrender. I’ll keep pushing until we get it right. My record should speak for me. I may not be perfect, but I believe in consistent growth and improvement,” she affirmed.
Binga’s unwavering passion and well-defined vision underscore her commitment to reposition Nigerian taekwondo, inspire a new generation of athletes, and restore the nation’s pride on the global stage.
