Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) is the organization that governs wrestling in Nigeria. It is divided into two subdivisions: The Nigeria Amateur Wrestling Federation (NAWF), which oversees amateur freestyle wrestling and Greco-Roman wrestling, and the Nigeria Professional Wrestling Federation (NPWF), which promotes professional wrestling. The federation is affiliated with United World Wrestling (UWW), the international governing body for wrestling.
History Wrestling has long been practiced as a traditional sport in communities throughout Nigeria. However, according to information by the National Library of Nigeria, wrestling is relatively new as an organised sport. Professional wrestlers like Sokari Soberekon, Michael Bamidele, Maman Zaria, Power Mike and Ben Lion Heart have been credited with the promotion of professional wrestling in the 1970s and 1980s.
In 1975, the Nigeria Wrestling Board of Control (NWB of C) was established by the then military government to promote and organize both amateur and professional wrestling. Michael Okpala, popularly known as Power Mike, was one of the most influential Nigerian professional wrestlers in the era. His prominence helped bring modern wrestling to a wider Nigerian audience. Power Mike retired from active professional wrestling in 1976 and subsequently became involved in the promotion of professional wrestling, his promotion of professional wrestling significantly led to the formal establishment of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation in 1981.
In 1990, the federation separated its amateur and professional divisions, resulting in the formation of the Nigeria Amateur Wrestling Federation (NAWF) and the Nigeria Professional Wrestling Federation (NPWF).
As of 2026, the current president of the federation is Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, comptroller general of the Nigeria Customs Service.
Past presidents Years President/Chairman Organisation/period 1975–1976 Colonel W. J. Ukor Nigeria Amateur Wrestling Association 1977–2001 Otunba Eddie Aderinokun Amateur wrestling administration 2001–2004 Michael Okpala (Power Mike) Amateur Wrestling restling Association chairman 2005–2013 Austin Igwe Edeze Nigeria Amateur Wrestling Federation / Nigeria Wrestling Federation 2013–2025 Daniel Igali Nigeria Wrestling Federation 2025–present Bashir Adewale Adeniyi Nigeria Wrestling Federation
References
External links Official website of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation Nigeria Wrestling Federation – United World Wrestling