Once overlooked and underfunded, rowing and canoeing in Nigeria are experiencing a remarkable transformation, thanks to the relentless efforts of Rear Admiral Festus Porbeni (Rtd.), President of the Nigeria Rowing, Canoeing, and Sailing Federation (NRCSF). A seasoned naval officer, former Minister of Transport, and ambassador, Porbeni has dedicated the past 18 years to repositioning water sports in Nigeria from obscurity to international acclaim.
Though traditionally embedded in the riverine cultures of states like Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Lagos, and Ondo for recreation and festivals, rowing and canoeing were never truly recognized as serious sports. That narrative is rapidly changing. Under Porbeni’s leadership, Nigeria has climbed to 8th in the global rankings and number one in Africa, with over 40 Olympic medals available in the discipline—yet the sport remains marginalized at national events like the upcoming National Sports Festival in Ogun State.
Speaking at the Niger Delta Sports Festival, held at the Marina Waterfront in Akwa Ibom State, where he launched the Ibom Rowing, Canoeing & Sailing Club, Porbeni decried the exclusion of water sports from key national platforms. “All Olympic scoring sports should automatically be part of the National Sports Festival,” he declared, urging the newly reconstituted National Sports Commission to rectify this oversight.
Porbeni’s legacy is already taking shape through stars like Ayomide Bello—born in a canoe and now Nigeria’s first female Olympic canoeist—and Beauty Otuedo. The duo recently qualified for Paris 2024, setting a remarkable pace in the women’s C2 500m category. The sport’s grassroots development is also thriving, with all race equipment at local competitions now produced domestically and technical staff trained to international standards.
A highlight of the federation’s growing prominence was Nigeria’s dominant performance at the 2023 African Admiral FBI Porbeni Canoe Race Championships in Abuja, where Team Nigeria won 14 gold medals. More recently, at the African qualifiers for the 2024 Olympics, Nigeria secured three automatic Olympic spots, finishing second overall.
Porbeni’s dream is not just about medals—it’s about creating a pipeline of talent that lifts young Nigerians into global recognition and economic stability. “We’re not resting on our oars,” he says with conviction. “I want to be remembered for establishing water sports in Nigeria and winning our first Olympic medal in rowing and canoeing.”
From commanding Nigeria’s biggest warship to captaining the country’s rise in global water sports, Rear Admiral Porbeni’s voyage is reshaping the tide for Nigerian athletics—one paddle stroke at a time.
