NWF President praises Adebiyi for becoming certified international referee

The President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, has congratulated Adebiyi Anthony Olusegun for achieving his Level Two United World Wrestling Referees certification.

Olusegun finished the Level Two Referees Course at the 2026 African Wrestling Championships in Alexandria, Egypt. This is a big step in his refereeing career. His participation is part of the NWF's plan under Adeniyi to develop officials. The aim is to give promising referees chances for international exposure and certification. The NWF President personally paid for his participation to help strengthen Nigerian wrestling officials.

Speaking about the certification, Adeniyi said this achievement shows the vision of the current NWF board. They want to invest in athletes, referees, coaches, and other officials. Their skills are important for the growth of wrestling in Nigeria.

“This achievement is a clear demonstration of our commitment to building a strong and sustainable wrestling system in Nigeria. 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,” Adeniyi said.

“We are delighted with Anthony’s progress and proud to see him attain this important international qualification. I encourage him to remain dedicated and continue striving for excellence. The sky is truly his starting point. I urge other young and aspiring referees to embrace opportunities for development and prepare themselves to represent Nigeria with distinction.”

In response, Olusegun thanked Adeniyi for sponsoring him to attend the course. He called the opportunity a key step in his career. He promised to use what he learned to help grow wrestling in Nigeria. He also wants to be an inspiration and mentor to younger referees.