In a ceremony held at the Presidential Villa, the Director General of the Nigeria Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, and the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, jointly decorated Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as the Grand Patron of the 2025 African Women’s Volleyball Championship.
Senator Tinubu, accepting the prestigious honor, underscored the vital role women play in all facets of society, asserting that their place at the top is earned through diligence and perseverance. She praised Nigeria’s female athletes for elevating the nation’s standing in global sports and urged them to inspire the next generation of girls with their stories of resilience and triumph.
Addressing the audience, which included several high-ranking female officers from the Nigeria Customs Service, the First Lady noted, “Out of the four Deputy Comptroller Generals here, three are women. That tells me you have worked tirelessly to reach the top. When given a platform, it’s not just about you—use it to lift and encourage others.”
The 2025 African Women’s Volleyball Championship, set to take place in Abuja from April 1 to 14, will see Nigeria, represented by the Customs Service team, hosting 23 African nations. Senator Tinubu’s appointment as Grand Patron is seen as a boost to the event, given her growing reputation as a champion of women’s sports in Nigeria.
Comptroller General Adeniyi, in presenting the honor, lauded the First Lady’s support for female athletes, saying, “When a woman puts her hand to the plow, the earth itself responds. Your initiatives and generosity are unparalleled and an inspiration to us all.” Meanwhile, NSC Director General Olopade credited the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the First Lady for ushering in a transformative era for Nigerian sports, particularly through initiatives like the RHINSE campaign.
Olopade also expressed gratitude to Adeniyi for his contributions to sports development, emphasizing the collaborative efforts driving the championship’s success. The ceremony concluded with Senator Tinubu receiving her official kits as Grand Patron, marking her formal entry into the role.