By Joel Ajayi
Dr. Ibrahim Abdul has been re-elected as the President of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF) following a smooth and peaceful election held during the Elective Congress at the Gymnasium Hall of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
Dr. Abdul, who previously led the federation, was returned unopposed with 12 votes, marking the beginning of his second term in office.
His re-election was met with optimism and high expectations for continued progress and development in Nigerian weightlifting.
In the other election results, Mr. Lawrence Iquaiborn emerged as the new Vice President of the federation after defeating Innocent Nwakwo by 8 votes to 4.
Meanwhile, in the Technical ’ representative category, Sefia Onubaye secured a landslide victory over Mr. Christopher, winning 30 votes to 4.
The peaceful conduct of the elections was widely applauded by stakeholders, who described it as a model for other sports federations in the country.
In his post-election remarks, Dr. Abdul expressed deep appreciation to members of the federation for reposing their confidence in him.
He emphasized that the new leadership’s ambition goes beyond local achievements.
“I am extremely humbled to be elected for another four years. I want to thank my colleagues for the trust they’ve placed in me — I do not take it for granted,” he said.
“Our goal is not just to dominate Africa but to conquer the world in the sport of weightlifting.”
He praised the peaceful nature of the election, describing it as a testament to the unity and maturity within the federation.
“There were no quarrels or tension; everything went smoothly. This is how elections should be conducted — peacefully and respectfully. I urge other federations to adopt this model,” he added.
The newly re-elected president also spoke on the importance of teamwork, commitment, and financial independence in driving the federation forward.
“This responsibility is a selfless one. Running a federation requires significant funding, and we cannot depend entirely on the sports commission. We must seek alternative sponsorships and partnerships to sustain our activities,” he emphasized.
Dr. Abdul called on all members of the executive board to take their roles seriously and contribute meaningfully to the growth of the sport.
“If we are financially self-reliant, we won’t be at the mercy of anyone. We will be able to plan, execute and participate in international events without always begging for support.”
He also said that, Welfare of athletes and coaches will be top priority of board saying that our target is to be number 1 in the world
He concluded by urging members to work hard and collaboratively, assuring them that the new administration would be inclusive and performance-driven.
