Nigerian wrestling referee Adebiyi Olusegun has attained the Level 2 Referees Certification of United World Wrestling, UWW, marking another significant step in the development of Nigerian technical officials in the sport.
The Nigerian Wrestling Federation, NWF, announced the achievement in a statement issued by its Media Assistant, Promise Okotoko, in Abuja, stating that Olusegun completed the Level 2 Referees Certification Course organized during the 2026 African Wrestling Championships in Alexandria, Egypt.
The qualification places Olusegun among Nigerian wrestling officials who have advanced their technical knowledge and international experience through recognised UWW training programmes.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the referee was sponsored by the NWF to participate in the certification programme, in line with the federation’s efforts to strengthen the capacity and professionalism of Nigerian wrestling officials.
The federation said the decision to support Olusegun’s participation reflects its broader commitment to developing the human resources required for the continued growth of wrestling in the country.
Speaking on the achievement, NWF President Bashir Adeniyi congratulated Olusegun and said the qualification was a reflection of the federation’s vision to invest in all areas of wrestling development, rather than focusing only on athletes.
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Adeniyi noted that referees, coaches and other technical officials play an important role in ensuring that competitions are properly conducted and that athletes operate within internationally recognised standards.
He said developing competent technical officials would help Nigeria strengthen its presence and credibility in international wrestling competitions.
“This achievement is a clear demonstration of our commitment to building a strong and sustainable wrestling system in Nigeria,” Adeniyi said.
“Our focus extends beyond athletes to include referees, coaches, and other technical officials because their competence is vital to the continued growth of the sport,” he added.
The NWF president further expressed satisfaction with Olusegun’s progress, describing the Level 2 certification as an important international qualification in his refereeing career.
While congratulating the referee, Adeniyi urged him to remain committed to continuous learning and professional development as he takes on greater responsibilities in the sport.
“We are delighted with Olusegun’s progress and proud to see him attain this important international qualification,” he said.
“I encourage him to remain dedicated and continue striving for excellence. The sky is truly his starting point.”
Adeniyi also encouraged young and aspiring wrestling referees across Nigeria to take advantage of available training and development opportunities.
He said building a strong pool of qualified referees would contribute to the long-term development of wrestling and help Nigeria produce officials capable of operating at major continental and international competitions.
“I urge other young and aspiring referees to embrace development opportunities and prepare themselves to represent Nigeria with distinction,” Adeniyi said.
Olusegun’s qualification therefore represents not only a personal milestone but also another step in the NWF’s efforts to improve the standard of technical officiating and build a more sustainable wrestling structure in Nigeria.
NAN
