Hosts First-Ever Senior International Fencing Tournament in Africa as Lagos Welcomes Commonwealth’s Best
By TQM News,
Nigeria is set to make sporting history as the Nigeria Fencing Federation (NFF) has unveiled a 12-member wheelchair fencing team to represent the country at the 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships, which will take place from August 9 to 14 at Rugby School Nigeria, Atlantic City, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The Championships will be remembered as a landmark event, becoming the first Commonwealth Fencing Championships to be hosted in Nigeria and the first senior international fencing competition ever staged on the African continent. The milestone is expected to position Nigeria as an emerging hub for international fencing while promoting greater inclusion of persons with disabilities in competitive sports.
The Nigerian contingent consists of six male and six female athletes who will compete in the para fencing events against top wheelchair fencers from Commonwealth nations.
The men’s squad comprises Oduneye Opeoluwa, Adibe Bright, Owolabi Daniel, Ajani Idowu, Adeniji Michael, and Owoyele Damilola, while the women’s team features Obilor Chidinma, Rahamon Abiola, Iorguna Joy, Ezeamwafor Esther, Otun Joyce, and Kumuyi Itunu.
For the six female athletes, the tournament represents a significant career milestone as they prepare to make their international debut on home soil, carrying the hopes of a nation eager to witness another breakthrough in disability sports.
Lagos Hosts International Wheelchair Fencing Academy
Ahead of the Championships, Lagos is already serving as the centre of global wheelchair fencing development with the 2026 Wheelchair Fencing Academy (ENABLE Academy) taking place from August 5 to 7.
The Academy, organised by World Abilitysport in collaboration with the Commonwealth Fencing Federation and the Nigeria Fencing Federation, is bringing together athletes, coaches, referees, and technical officials from across the Commonwealth for an intensive three-day capacity-building programme.
Participants are receiving practical and theoretical training in coaching methods, athlete development, competition rules, classification, and technical officiating. The programme also includes a dedicated education seminar for aspiring referees and provides a platform for participants to exchange ideas, build partnerships, and strengthen the global wheelchair fencing community.
The sessions are being led by Ivan Schwantes, World Para Fencing’s Coaching Representative, whose expertise is expected to enhance the skills of both emerging and experienced participants.
Following the Academy, athletes will compete in individual and team events across the foil and epee disciplines during the Championships.
‘Fencing Must Be Open to Everyone’
Speaking ahead of the competition, Acting Chief Executive Officer of World Abilitysport, Harry Cootes, said expanding access to fencing for persons with disabilities remains central to the organisation’s mission.
He noted that the Wheelchair Fencing Academy has become an important platform for nurturing athletes and coaches in developing nations and expressed optimism that hosting the programme in Africa for the first time would further accelerate the growth of the sport across the continent.
According to him, the Academy provides emerging nations with opportunities to acquire technical knowledge, build international relationships, and prepare athletes for elite competition.
Cootes also praised the Commonwealth Fencing Federation, the Nigeria Fencing Federation, and the team of international educators for their commitment to developing wheelchair fencing and creating pathways for more athletes with disabilities to compete at the highest level.
A New Chapter for Disability Sports in Africa
The Championships represent far more than an international sporting competition. They signal a new era for disability-inclusive sports in Nigeria and across Africa.
By hosting both the ENABLE Academy and the Commonwealth Championships, Nigeria is demonstrating its capacity to organise world-class sporting events while creating opportunities for athletes with disabilities to excel on the international stage.
For the Nigerian para fencing team, the Championships offer a rare opportunity to compete before a home crowd, inspire young persons with disabilities, and reinforce the message that talent, determination, and opportunity—not disability—define sporting excellence.
As athletes from across the Commonwealth converge on Lagos, Nigeria will not only be competing for medals but also showcasing its leadership in promoting inclusion, accessibility, and the transformative power of sport.
