GLASGOW 2026: ENKU EKUTA ENDS 24-YEAR WAIT, Bronze Triumph Revives Nigerian Judo as the Ekuta Legacy Shines Again on the Commonwealth Stage

By Eyere Ekuta

For twenty-four years, Nigerian judo waited for another moment on the Commonwealth Games podium.

Since the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games, where Nigeria celebrated four bronze medals through Alice Livinus (-48kg), Shaibu Adisa (-66kg), Bose Aderemi (-78kg) and Hakeem Gbadamosi (+100kg), no Nigerian judoka had won another medal at the Games. 

That long wait finally came to an end at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC), Glasgow, as Enku Ekuta produced a memorable performance to win bronze in the women's -63kg category, becoming Nigeria's first Commonwealth Games judo medallist in 24 years and the country's only judo medallist at Glasgow 2026.

Her achievement was more than another medal for Team Nigeria. It represented the reward for years of perseverance, hard work and commitment by the athlete, her coaches, the Nigeria Judo Federation and the entire Nigerian judo community. It also marked another remarkable chapter in one of the country's most respected judo families, the Ekutas.

Ekuta's defining moment came in the bronze medal contest against Rita Kabinda of Zambia. Understanding the significance of the occasion, the Nigerian displayed exceptional composure, tactical awareness and technical excellence throughout the contest. She executed one of the most difficult combinations in competitive judo, initiating the attack with a perfectly timed Tomoe-nage (circle throw) before transitioning seamlessly into a Morote Seoi-nage (two-handed shoulder throw). 

The combination, which requires exceptional timing, balance and precision, is regarded by experienced judoka as one of the sport's more advanced attacking sequences. The execution left little room for recovery and sealed a historic victory for the Nigerian, prompting celebrations from the coaching crew and teammates as the reality of ending Nigeria's medal drought finally sank in.

The bronze medal was the culmination of an impressive campaign. Ekuta began her competition with a confident victory over Qona Christie of New Zealand, using superior grip control, movement and tactical discipline to dictate the contest. She followed that performance with another victory against Georgina George of the Solomon Islands, keeping her medal ambitions alive. 

Although she narrowly missed out on reaching the final, she responded in the true spirit of judo by regrouping for the bronze medal contest, where she produced arguably her finest performance of the tournament to secure Nigeria's place back on the Commonwealth podium.

Ekuta's success is the product of years of consistency rather than a single outstanding tournament. She earned her place on Team Nigeria after emerging from the Nigeria Judo Federation's Commonwealth Games trials in Abuja, having already established herself as one of the country's most accomplished female judoka. 

Her domestic dominance is reflected in her remarkable record of winning four consecutive National Sports Festival titles, Nigeria's premier multi-sport competition and a major platform for talent identification.

On the international stage, she has continued to distinguish herself. She won silver at the 2019 African Judo Championships before becoming African champion in 2020 in Dakar, Senegal, where she defeated Cameroon's Helene Wezeu Dombeu to claim the continental title. Ekuta also qualified to represent Nigeria at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. 

Although circumstances prevented her Olympic campaign from unfolding as she had hoped, she remained committed to the sport, returning stronger and more determined. Her bronze medal in Glasgow is a testament to that resilience and consistency.

What makes Enku's achievement even more significant is the legacy of the family behind her success. She comes from one of Nigeria's most distinguished judo families. Her mother, Catherine Ekuta, represented Nigeria at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and remains one of the country's accomplished female judoka. Her father, Ewa Ekuta, is a former national judoka, an International Judo Federation (IJF) referee, respected coach and former Technical Director of the Nigeria Judo Federation. 

Having guided Catherine to the Olympic Games years earlier, Ewa also played a central role in developing his daughter into an African champion, and now Commonwealth Games medallist. The Ekuta family has, over the years, contributed immensely to the growth and development of judo in Nigeria, both on and off the tatami.

Supporting the team throughout its preparation and competition in Glasgow was Coach Christy Aremu, one of Nigeria's pioneering female judoka. A Commonwealth Games silver medallist in 1990 and bronze medallist in 1992, Christy brought invaluable experience to the coaching crew during the team's camping programme and the Games. 

Her technical guidance and understanding of competing on the Commonwealth stage provided an important source of motivation for the athletes, particularly Enku, whose achievement now places her among Nigeria's distinguished Commonwealth medallists.

While Enku claimed Nigeria's only medal in judo, her teammates also produced encouraging performances. Michael Agbo (-66kg) enjoyed an impressive run, defeating opponents from Mauritius and Australia to reach the semi-finals before losing to Canada's experienced Julien Frascadore. He remained in medal contention until the bronze medal contest, where he narrowly lost to England's Michael Fryer to finish a commendable fifth overall. 

His performances demonstrated his growing maturity and potential on the international stage.

In the men's -73kg category, Taiwo Aremu competed against some of the division's strongest athletes. Entering Glasgow ranked around 203rd in the IJF World Rankings with 128 World Ranking List points, the tournament provided another valuable opportunity to gain international experience and continue his steady development.

Kehinde Paul Aremu, competing in the men's -66kg division, entered the Games with approximately 496 IJF World Ranking points. Drawn against Scotland's Neil MacDonald in the opening round, he faced a difficult challenge against the home favourite. Although his campaign ended in the first round, the experience will contribute significantly to his growth at the international level.

Enku's historic bronze medal has since united Nigeria's judo community in celebration. From former internationals and veteran coaches to referees, administrators, young judoka and supporters across the country, the achievement has been widely celebrated as a turning point for the sport. 

The Nigeria Judo Federation, led by its President Dr. Musa Oshodi, described the medal as a major milestone that reflects the federation's renewed commitment to athlete development and international competitiveness. Across dojos nationwide, there is a renewed sense of optimism that Nigerian judo is once again capable of competing consistently with the Commonwealth's best.

Speaking after her victory, an emotional Enku Ekuta dedicated the medal to everyone who contributed to her journey. She first thanked God for granting her the strength and opportunity to achieve the feat. She expressed deep appreciation to her parents, Catherine and Ewa Ekuta, whom she described as her greatest inspiration, first coaches and unwavering support system.

She also acknowledged the contributions of her teammates, coaches and the entire Nigerian delegation, while extending special gratitude to the Akwa Ibom State Government, the National Sports Commission, the Nigeria Judo Federation, and the entire Nigerian judo family for believing in her throughout her career.

For Nigerian judo, Glasgow 2026 will be remembered as far more than another international competition. It was the tournament that ended a 24-year wait, restored belief within the sport and reaffirmed that Nigeria still possesses athletes capable of competing with the very best on the Commonwealth stage. 

Enku Ekuta's bronze medal may officially belong to her, but its significance extends beyond an individual achievement. It belongs to her family, whose name has become deeply rooted in Nigerian judo, to every coach and teammate who shared the journey, and to an entire judo community whose patience and resilience have finally been rewarded.

After twenty-four years, Nigerian judo is back on the Commonwealth Games podium.