Adeniyi celebrates Adebiyi’s UWW level 2 refereeing milestone

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye 

  

  

  

President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has congratulated Adebiyi Anthony Olusegun on earning his Level 2 refereeing certification from United World Wrestling (UWW).

Adebiyi secured the international qualification after successfully completing the Level 2 Referees Course held during the 2026 African Wrestling Championships in Alexandria, Egypt.

His latest achievement represents another step forward in his officiating career and underlines the NWF’s growing emphasis on developing technical officials alongside athletes.

Adeniyi sponsored Adebiyi’s participation in the course as part of the federation’s commitment to exposing Nigerian officials to international training and creating a pathway for them to acquire globally recognised qualifications.

The NWF President said the achievement was consistent with the board’s vision of building a stronger and more sustainable wrestling system by investing in referees, coaches and other technical personnel.

“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.

He expressed delight at Adebiyi’s progress and urged him to remain committed to continuous learning and professional excellence.

“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,” he added.

Adeniyi also challenged other young and aspiring Nigerian referees to take advantage of available development opportunities and prepare themselves for international assignments.

He said the federation would continue to support initiatives that improve the quality and capacity of Nigerian wrestling officials.

Reacting to his certification, Adebiyi expressed appreciation to Adeniyi for sponsoring his participation in the course, describing the opportunity as a significant milestone in his career.

He thanked the NWF President for investing in the development of technical officials and pledged to put the knowledge and experience gained in Egypt to use in advancing wrestling in Nigeria.

Adebiyi also promised to serve as a source of inspiration and mentorship to younger referees, encouraging them to remain committed to learning and pursue excellence in their officiating careers.