Nigeria’s Olumide Oyedeji has been elected secretary general of the World Olympians Association (WOA), becoming the first African to hold the position.
Oyedeji secured 55 of the 106 valid votes cast, representing 51.89 per cent, to defeat Salvador Salguero of El Salvador and Liston Bochette of Puerto Rico in the election.
He succeeds Anthony Ledgard of Peru and will serve a four-year term on the association’s executive board alongside President Pernilla Wiberg of Sweden and Treasurer Wei-Tsu Thomas of Chinese Taipei.
Currently president of the Nigeria Olympians Association and third vice president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Oyedeji also chairs the Nigeria Athletes Commission.
Photo Credit: X
In his acceptance remarks, he paid tribute to the outgoing executive committee led by Joel Bouzou, acknowledging their contributions to Olympians across the world and describing their work as a lasting part of the association’s history.
Oyedeji said integrity would guide every decision, transparency would define leadership actions, and inclusion would be central to the association’s work. He stressed that every continent, every National Olympians Association and every Olympian would be represented and heard.
He also pledged closer collaboration with the International Olympic Committee, describing it as a key partner in advancing the Olympic Movement through open dialogue, mutual respect and shared purpose.
According to Oyedeji, the association will focus on uniting Olympians globally, empowering national bodies, amplifying athletes’ voices and translating Olympic values into measurable impact.
Oyedeji during his playing days for the D’tigers. Photo Credit: NBBF
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The newly elected board includes representatives from across the continents, with Africa represented by Rosa Rakotozafy of Madagascar and Andrew Owusu of Ghana, alongside members from the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania.
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A former professional basketball player, Oyedeji was drafted 42nd overall by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 2000 NBA Draft. He later captained Nigeria’s D’Tigers to their first All-Africa Games gold medal in 2011 and co-captained the team that won the country’s first AfroBasket title in 2015.
