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Fencing · History

History of Fencing in Nigeria

One of Nigeria’s newest Olympic sports: from a federation formed in 1997 to hosting Africa and the Commonwealth.

Nigerian fencers in a bout at a national championship

The story

How fencing came to Nigeria

Nigeria is gradually diversifying its sporting activities as new and uncommon sports are being established and promoted, such kind of sports includes fencing. Some believe modern fencing owes much to Spain, where some of the most famous early fencing books were written by Spanish masters.

The sport was first initiated in the Summer Olympics Games in the year 1896 in Athens but was initiated in Nigeria by the sports federation in 1997 with Chief Kayode Aderinokun as its first president; Adeyinka Samuel has led it since May 2011, and it is headquartered in Lagos Nigeria.

It is affiliated to the National Olympic committee for Nigeria known as Nigeria Olympic Committee which supports and coordinates Nigerian competitors in Olympic Games.

Nigerian fencing federation in 2015 officially selected an 11-man squad who represented the country at the All-African Games held from 4th to 9th of September 2015 held in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo.

They also conducted an annual inter-school fencing competition such as the one of 2016 that was held from 3rd to 10th of December 2016 at French School Victoria Island Lagos.

The event marked the 2nd Interschool Fencing Competition hosted by the Nigeria Fencing Federation in collaboration with RCCG City of David (David’s Cup Annual Inter School Competition) which presented a lot of medals, trophies and other prizes.

In March 2018, around the Cadet and Junior African Fencing Championships held at Molade Okoya Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, the president of the federation announced plans to train an estimated 10,000 young fencers.

The president stated on this note the purpose of training interested individual to be as a result of the low number of clubs and to bring up national athletes that will be representing the country; beginning the training from their respective schools.

Young Nigerian fencers training in a Lagos club

Verified timeline · checked 30 September 2026

Nigerian fencing timeline

  1. 1896Fencing is on the programme of the first modern Olympic Games in Athens.
  2. 1997The Nigeria Fencing Federation is founded by Chief Kayode Aderinokun, its first president.
  3. 2007Dr Bidemi Odeleye is elected federation president.
  4. 2011Adeyinka Samuel is elected federation president in May and launches the Fencing in Schools programme.
  5. 2015An 11-strong Nigerian squad fences at the All-Africa Games in Brazzaville.
  6. 2016The 2nd Interschool Fencing Competition is held at the French School, Victoria Island.
  7. 2018Lagos hosts the Cadet and Junior African Championships; Tosan Egbesemirone wins junior foil bronze, Nigeria’s first international medal.
  8. 2023Nigerian-American Inkosi Brou begins fencing for Nigeria.
  9. 2024Brou wins silver at a World Cup satellite event in Iceland and breaks into the world junior top 10 in sabre.
  10. 2025Lagos hosts the 23rd African Fencing Championships; the women’s épée team wins Nigeria’s first team match and finishes fifth.
  11. 2026Lagos hosts the Commonwealth Fencing Championships; Nigeria wins its first international gold and Adeyinka Samuel is elected Commonwealth president.

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Quick answers

History of Nigerian fencing: quick answers

When did fencing start in Nigeria?

The Nigeria Fencing Federation was founded in 1997 by Chief Kayode Aderinokun, its first president. Dr Bidemi Odeleye led it from 2007, and Adeyinka Samuel has been president since May 2011, developing the sport through schools and clubs.

When did Nigeria win its first fencing medal?

Tosan Egbesemirone won bronze in the individual men’s foil at the 2018 Junior African Championships in Lagos, Nigeria’s first international fencing medal.