Oby Solaja Re-elected for Fresh Four-Year Term in Badminton Federation of Nigeria

 

 

The 2019 Africa Women in Badminton Award recipient, Oby Solaja, has secured another four-year tenure in the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), reinforcing her sustained impact on the sport’s growth.

Her re-election was confirmed at the BFN zonal elections held in Enugu, where she emerged as the South East zonal representative. Delegates endorsed her return, citing her notable contributions to grassroots badminton development across the region.
A former multiple African champion, Solaja was among the pioneering global badminton players to compete at the Olympic Games, etching her name in the sport’s history before transitioning into sports administration.
Oby Solaja receives a renewed mandate to further advance badminton development in Nigeria.
Following her retirement from active competition, she strengthened her administrative expertise by completing the six-module sports administration programme under the CIES/FIFA diploma at Cairo University, enhancing her proficiency in sports governance and organisational leadership.
Grassroots Drive in the South East
Over the last four years, Solaja has driven badminton development initiatives in Southeastern Nigeria through an annual championship organised in collaboration with the Bet9ja Foundation. The tournament, hosted rotationally across states in the region, has created opportunities for emerging players while deepening grassroots participation.
Enugu State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Lloyd Ikechukwu Ekweremadu, in discussion with Southeast Badminton Championship Convener, Oby Edoga-Solaja.
Her initiatives have been widely acknowledged for broadening the sport’s reach and fostering youth involvement in badminton within the zone.
Speaking after her confirmation, Solaja promised to intensify efforts in spreading what she termed the “gospel of badminton,” stressing continuity, talent identification, and the establishment of structured development pathways.
She also conveyed her gratitude to Kunle Soname, whose Bet9ja Foundation has played a pivotal role in supporting badminton expansion in the Southeast.
With her renewed mandate, stakeholders anticipate that Solaja will consolidate existing initiatives and further strengthen institutional frameworks within the federation — continuing a journey that began on the court and now flourishes in administration.