History of Archery in Nigeria

The story

From hunting bow to Olympic sport

Archery has long been in existence in Nigeria and in other African countries by using wooden bows and arrows which can be seen especially when hunting for meat but was only modified as a sport for everyone who is interested to have a fair share of what the game is like.

Archery is a skill or sporting game that involves the practice or skill of using a bow to shoot/propel arrows. It is becoming one of the interesting competitive games and recreational activities in the country and is gradually accelerating to a higher level just as when football started in Nigeria.

The plans to bring the game to the country started in 1996 with Mr Olugbenga Olatunji, Dr Adeniji and Jim Obot when they started sending letters to the World Archery requesting for the establishment of the game in Nigeria. After they have written series of letters to FITA, the World Archery through the Grand National Archery Society of the UK repeating their request for affiliation the request was considered in the due course.

In 1997, Nigerian Archery Federation was created, and afterwards affiliated to the World Archery. Without much delay in establishing the officials and the management of the board, their activities resumed immediately involving all the states of the country as well as individuals who are interested in the game.

First medals and new archers

In 2012, two coaches from Nigeria participated in I.O.C Solidarity Coaching Course:

Boluji Olatunji and Izekor Lucky as well as other three archers which include Florence Ogunkoya, Adisa Rahmon and Sunday Ogundeji at 4th TIZOCATA International Tournament Zone West and Central African Archery - in Cotonou, Benin (West Africa Archery Championship) in the Benin Republic and won the first 2 bronze medals in archery game for Nigeria.

Recently, professional archers and team coaches in Nigeria have started training new archers so as to get athletes in the game who will be representing the country at international championships.

The Lekki Archers and the Abidjan Grand Prix

An archery instructor, Ladi Alapini recently introduced archery to the Nigerian youths in November 2017, by setting up an Archery Club in Lagos named Lekki Archers Club in partnership with Pinefield School in Lekki. He had just completed the course of training new archers and the graduation ceremony for the first set of archers took place on the 27th March 2018 in Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria.

Ladi Alapini discovered that Cote D’Ivoire was going to have their 5th International Archery Grand Prix, which means they will be inviting other African countries, especially the West African countries. Nigerian Archery Federation offered to support and that made the 3 representatives from the country to attend the competition.

Alapini participated well among other 2 representatives and was qualified to be placed as one on the medal table to compete at the semi and quarter-finals but politics of the game with other unclear incidence brought about otherwise decision to face the Ivorian archers. He was finally merged with other groups to play for the semi-final because Nigerian officials were not present to stand for the position.

The game of archery is today stable in Nigeria. The Nigerian Archery Federation has attended different competitions and events at the national and international levels.

Archery in Nigeria also welcomes all categories from teams and individuals who have made the Olympic sport of archery their activity of choice.