Samuel Elected President of Commonwealth Fencing Federation

Nigeria's Adeyinka Samuel has made history by becoming the first Nigerian and African to be elected President of the Commonwealth Fencing Federation (CFF). He secured a decisive victory over the incumbent, Marie-France Dufour, winning 14 votes to six at the federation's elective Annual General Meeting held in Lagos.

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This is a great honour and a responsibility that I do not take lightly.

Samuel's election marks a significant shift, breaking a long-standing tradition of leadership from countries like Scotland, Australia, and Canada. He expressed gratitude for the confidence placed in him, stating, "This is a great honour and a responsibility that I do not take lightly." He aims to leverage his position to further develop fencing across the Commonwealth and create more opportunities for athletes, emphasizing a vision to make the sport more accessible and inclusive.

The achievement coincides with Nigeria hosting the Senior and Veteran Commonwealth Fencing Championships in Lagos, drawing over 20 participating countries. Under Samuel's previous leadership, Nigeria has hosted successful International Fencing Federation-sanctioned events and became the first African nation to host the Senior Commonwealth Fencing Championships. He highlighted that the Under-23 and Wheelchair Fencing events will be recognized as medal-yielding competitions, promoting greater inclusivity.

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I am grateful to the Commonwealth fencing family for the confidence placed in me.

Delegates lauded Samuel's journey from a world-class athlete to leading the Nigeria Fencing Federation and now the CFF. He views his election not just as a personal triumph but as a crucial step forward for African representation in global sports administration, signaling a new era for fencing within the Commonwealth.

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I believe we can work together to grow the sport, support our athletes and make fencing more accessible and inclusive across the Commonwealth.