Nigerian athletes have long been a dominant force in the US collegiate system, the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA), from legends like Olapade Adeniken who won the sprint double in 1992, to Mary Onyali who clinched the 200m title in 1988. In more recent years, stars like Favour Ofili and Udodi Onwuzurike have continued this legacy, showcasing Nigeria’s talent on the global collegiate stage.
In 2024, the NCAA welcomed a new wave of Nigerian athletes who broke records and reached significant milestones, such as Samuel Ogazi who finished 2nd at the NCAA Championships in Oregon and went on to make the Olympic 400m final in his freshman year for Alabama.
Others would include 3rd place-finisher in the women’s High Jump at the same championships, Temitope Adeshina, who reset National Records both indoors and outdoors, and Kanyinsola Ajayi, winner of the SEC 60m title and eventually, 100m Bronze in Oregon.
While 2024 may perhaps have seen the largest influx of Nigerian home-based athletes to the US, the new season, 2025, has come with its own share of transitions.
The biggest of such moves can be seen in the form of Prestina Ochonogor who although was initially signed to University of Arizona, will now compete for Tarleton State University after the jumps coach at Arizona, Bobby Carter, became the new coach for Tarleton.
She goes in with a huge wealth of experience, having competed at the highest level of the sport, the Olympic Games final, in what was only a breakout year for her. She also won the Nigerian women’s Long Jump title in 2024, an African Games Bronze medal and was a finalist at the World U20 Championships in Peru.
Consider Ekanem is another athlete whose brilliant performances in 2024 has earned him a scholarship to Tennessee, one of the best schools in NCAA Division I. The highlights of Ekanem’s season was his 6.70s and 10.10s single day 60/100m double in his opener at the Dynamic Athletics Meet in Lagos and victory over 200m at the African Games Trials in Asaba where he ran the 3rd fastest time ever by a Nigerian on home soil. He also won a Bronze at the African Games at the same distance. He’s had an explosive start to his NCAA debut, running a then World Lead (WL) of 6.57s a couple of weeks ago at the McFerrin Invitational.
Having been one of the most present forces on the home scene in the past few years, there is no doubt Fakorede Nicholas will be missed. He joins Mississippi State University and will immediately go in as one of their better-positioned sprinters with his Personal Bests (PB) of 10.23s (100m) which he has replicated on many occasions and 20.87s (200m).
Joining Texas Tech for the new athletics season is Olayinka Olajide, who was without a doubt, the best female athlete in the short sprints at home in 2024. Hers was a season of dreams as she was only making a return from a 2-year hiatus off the sport. However, she took over by a storm, raking in victories over 100m and 200m at the African Games Trials before going on to claim a complete set of medals – GOLD, Silver and Bronze – at the African Games for Nigeria.
Justina Eyakpobeyan was close behind. With her PB of 11.22s, she got offers from the heavy hitters, including LSU, USC, Texas, FSU, Alabama, Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Auburn. Ultimately, she went with USC, the home of Allyson Felix and a school that has produced many greats, such as Angela Williams, Don Quarrie and Quincy Watts, who she will now work with to improve her skills.
National 200m Champion, Sunday Israel Okon will attend University of Auburn for his freshman year. He enjoyed a lot of success in 2024, including GOLD medal as lead-off on Nigeria’s 4x100m quartet at the African Games. He set multiple PBs all through the course of the season, finishing off with a 10.12 and an appearance for Nigeria at the World U20 Championships where he won his heat and bowed out due to injury.
Faith Osamuyi championed the women’s 100m hurdles on the home circuit in 2024, with victories across various legs of MTN CHAMPS, including the African Games Trials in Asaba where she ran her present PB of 13.51s. Her consistency in the course of the year earned her a scholarship to Alabama where she’ll join Samuel Ogazi as part of the growing Nigerian contingent in the community.
One of the biggest moves of the year perhaps will be Blessing Ogundiran’s to Purdue. For the past four years, Ogundiran has been an ever-present name at competitions in Nigeria and will now attend the school instrumental in the success of Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, indoor African Record holder in the Shot put.
Joining her on that train are Chisom Onyebuchi who laid good groundwork for herself in 2024, as did Taiye Ayenuro who was also announced as part of the school’s roster for 2025.
Precious Nzeakor had a brief stint with University of Northern Colorado where she won her debut indoor race and has since then gone on to be announced to join University of Alabama. She won the 200m national title in 2024.
Other big names to have been announced to make a transition into the NCAA include:
Goodluck Fiaku (High Jump) – Eastern Michigan
Edidiong Udo (800m) – Ohio State
Adebisi Musibau (100m, 200m) – Purdue
Johnson Nnamani (400m) – Arizona State
Chioma Nwachukwu (400m) – Iowa
Taiwo Mary Kudoro (400m) – Arizona State
