By Nkechi Eze
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has added another milestone to his record of national service and leadership excellence with his emergence as President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF). His election, which took place on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at the Gymnasium Hall, Package B of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, was supervised by the National Sports Commission and widely hailed by athletes, coaches, and sports administrators across the country.
Delegates and observers at the event described Adeniyi’s election as a timely and strategic development for the advancement of Nigerian sports, noting his proven track record of discipline, innovation, and reform-minded leadership. The Customs boss, who has long been an advocate of youth empowerment and sports development, brings to the Wrestling Federation decades of experience in building institutions and nurturing talent through structured leadership.
Before venturing into wrestling administration, Adeniyi had made significant contributions to Nigeria’s sporting ecosystem through the Nigeria Customs Service Sports Unit, which under his leadership, evolved into one of the most formidable sports institutions in the country. The unit has produced numerous national and international champions, Olympians, and role models who have represented Nigeria with distinction across various sporting disciplines.
In his post-election remarks, CGC Adeniyi commended the recent reforms introduced into Nigeria’s sports sector by the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing them as instrumental in restoring confidence, transparency, and order to sports administration. He expressed satisfaction with the credibility of the electoral process that produced the new board and pledged to build on the momentum of reform to deliver effective governance and sustainable growth in Nigerian wrestling.
“I’m beginning to see the dividends of the reforms that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is putting into the sports sector, putting the right people in place, the right processes, and the right systems to drive the electoral process. I am quite satisfied, and I feel this is an environment where I can work and thrive,” he stated.
Adeniyi reaffirmed his commitment to align the Federation’s goals with national sports development policies, emphasizing structure, integrity, and innovation as the pillars of his leadership. He assured stakeholders that his administration would focus on developing a clear talent pipeline, enhancing technical capacity, and creating better opportunities for Nigerian wrestlers to compete globally.
He also highlighted the need to strengthen governance systems within the Federation, foster synergy among board members, and prioritize athlete welfare to ensure that wrestling continues to thrive as one of Nigeria’s most successful sports.
Stakeholders and sports enthusiasts have expressed confidence that Adeniyi’s emergence will usher in a new era of professionalism, accountability, and renewed energy for the Nigeria Wrestling Federation. Many described him as a leader with a unique blend of administrative experience, vision, and collaborative spirit — qualities they believe will drive the Federation to greater heights.
Under his leadership, the wrestling community anticipates a period of revitalization that will not only consolidate Nigeria’s continental dominance but also enhance its competitiveness on the global stage. With Adeniyi at the helm, many believe the Nigeria Wrestling Federation is set to enter a new phase of structured reform, innovation, and sustainable growth built on transparency, teamwork, and national pride.
