Nilayo Sports Management Company Limited has added yet another milestone to its growing global reputation as its Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Yetunde Olopade, has been named among Africa’s 50 Most Influential Women in Sports for 2025.
Olopade joins an elite class of trailblazing African women recognised by the Africa Sports Ventures Group (ASVG) for their immense contributions to the advancement of women and girls in sports across the continent.
Read Also: Raptors Roar Into Playoffs! Lagos Raptors Seal Crucial 26–14 Win Over Ikan Sports To Lock Down Postseason Spot At Electric Showtime Arena
A powerhouse in sports entrepreneurship, Olopade has been at the forefront of transforming road racing in Nigeria, spearheading some of the country’s most successful marathon events including the internationally acclaimed Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.
Her strategic leadership and business acumen have elevated Nilayo Sports Management Company into Nigeria’s premier sports management outfit, with its influence stretching across multiple regions of Africa’s road racing landscape.
Under her stewardship, Nilayo has become a force redefining the business of sports in Nigeria—creating world-class events, attracting global recognition, and driving innovation within the ecosystem of long-distance racing.
The company is also behind the highly anticipated PremiumTrust Bank Abuja City International Half Marathon, set for December 6, 2025, which recently made global history after earning the World Athletics Label in record time.
Olopade’s inclusion on the ASVG list places her alongside some of Africa’s most formidable sports figures.
Notable honorees include International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry, former FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Sports Augusta Teima, and legendary Nigerian Olympian Ambassador Mary Onyali.
The Africa Sports Ventures Group confirmed that the award ceremony will take place in Dakar, Senegal, in 2026, where the continent’s most influential female sports leaders will be celebrated for their role in advancing women’s participation and inspiring the next generation of African athletes.
Olopade’s recognition reaffirms her status as one of Africa’s defining sports visionaries—a woman driving change, creating opportunities, and shaping the future of sports on the continent.
