Lagos is set to take centre stage in Commonwealth fencing as the 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships begin on Sunday, August 9, bringing more than 250 athletes from over 20 countries to Eko Atlantic City for six days of competition.
The championships will be held at Rugby School in Eko Atlantic City and run until Friday, marking the return of the event to Africa for the first time in about a decade after Cape Town, South Africa, hosted it.
The tournament comes with several historic firsts. Under-23 individual competitions will be recognised as medal events for the first time, while wheelchair fencing will become a full medal competition after previously being staged as a demonstration event in London in 2022.
Approximately 350 entries have been recorded across the under-23, senior, veteran and wheelchair categories, reflecting the breadth of participation expected in Lagos.
The home team will also be competing with ambitious targets. Nigeria Fencing Federation President Adeyinka Samuel said the country is aiming for medals in the under-23, veteran and wheelchair events, with gold as the ultimate objective. He expressed confidence in the preparation and determination of the Nigerian athletes and the advantage of competing before home supporters.
Among those hoping to deliver is Nigerian MP fencer Wisdom Okanlawo, who described representing his country as an honour. He acknowledged the strength of the international field but said he was determined to give his best and compete for a medal.
While Lagos prepares for the competition, Samuel has secured a landmark achievement of his own. He was elected President of the Commonwealth Fencing Federation on Saturday at the federation’s elective Annual General Meeting at Rugby School Nigeria, Atlantic City.
Samuel defeated incumbent Marie-France Dufour by 14 votes to six, becoming the first Nigerian and first African to lead the Commonwealth Fencing Federation. His election marks a departure from the federation’s long-standing leadership tradition involving countries such as Scotland, Australia and Canada.
The appointment follows a period of growing international activity for Nigerian fencing. Under Samuel’s leadership, the Nigeria Fencing Federation has hosted International Fencing Federation-sanctioned Junior World Cups and African Championships. The country has now become the first African nation to stage the Senior Commonwealth Fencing Championships.
Organisers have undertaken extensive preparations for the Lagos event, with technical compliance, transportation, venue operations and coordination of officials among the priorities. Medical arrangements include a dedicated medical team, first-aid support and a standby ambulance to respond to emergencies.
Dufour described the championships as a milestone for Commonwealth fencing, particularly because of the introduction of the new under-23 events and the elevation of wheelchair fencing to medal status. She also urged athletes and officials to uphold friendship, respect and sportsmanship throughout the competition.
Olaitan Ogunbiyi, a member of the local organising committee, said securing the hosting rights was a significant achievement that required extensive planning and support from the government, sponsors, media organisations and parents.
The Lagos championships consequently bring together two important developments for Nigerian fencing: the arrival of hundreds of international athletes for a major Commonwealth competition and the election of a Nigerian to the federation’s highest leadership position.
For a sport gaining greater visibility in the country, the week ahead offers Nigeria an opportunity to compete, host and lead on the Commonwealth stage.
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