Seven-time Olympian and former African Table Tennis queen, Funke Oshonaike, has expressed deep appreciation to Basketball legend Olumide Oyedeji and key Nigerian sports administrators following her appointment to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission.
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Earlier in the week, IOC President Kirsty Coventry announced Oshonaike as one of five newly appointed members of the Athletes’ Commission, a body that represents the voice of athletes within the Olympic Movement.
The others appointed alongside her are Soraya Aghaei Haji Agha of Iran (badminton), Husein Alireza of Saudi Arabia (rowing), Cheick Sallah Cissé of Côte d’Ivoire (taekwondo), and Colombia’s cycling icon, Mariana Pajón.
Reacting to the appointment, Oshonaike reserved special praise for Olumide Oyedeji, President of the Nigeria Olympic Athletes Commission, whom she credited for initiating and sustaining her journey to the global Olympic stage.
She revealed that Oyedeji first put her name forward for the IOC Athletes’ Commission election in Paris last year, standing firmly by her despite the disappointment of narrowly missing out at the polls.
“In Paris, I received so many votes, yet it wasn’t enough to get elected, and I was heartbroken. But you never stopped believing in me,” Oshonaike said, noting that Oyedeji’s encouragement and unwavering support played a crucial role in keeping her focused.
Describing her appointment as a shared triumph, the table tennis icon added that the victory belonged not just to her, but to everyone who stood by her during the challenging moments of the journey.
Oshonaike also extended her gratitude to other stakeholders within Nigerian sports, including the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), the NOC Secretary General, respected broadcaster Aisha Falode, the Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Association, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, and Nigerians who rallied behind her cause.
“I am full of joy, pride, and gratitude. What a beautiful moment for my beloved country, Nigeria,” she said.
Oshonaike’s appointment marks another significant milestone for Nigeria on the global sporting stage, reinforcing the country’s growing influence within international sports administration and the Olympic Movement.
