Coach Lawrence Iquaibom, the Vice President and Technical Director of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), has been selected to officiate at two prestigious upcoming tournaments.
The 1984 Olympic silver medalist is set to serve as a technical official at both the World Junior Weightlifting Championships and the African Senior Weightlifting Championships. Both events are scheduled to take place this May in Ismailia, Egypt, marking a high point for Nigerian representation in the sport’s officiating ranks.
The high-profile appointments were formalized through official communications from the sport’s highest governing bodies. Iquaibom’s role at the World Junior Championships, running from May 2 to May 8, was confirmed by International Weightlifting Federation President Mohammed Jaloud and General Secretary José Quiñones.
Following that assignment, he will transition to the African Senior Championships from May 10 to May 17, as confirmed in a letter dated April 11 by the Weightlifting Federation of Africa leadership, including President Khaled Mhalhel.
In another development, Team Nigeria’s competitive contingent for the African Senior Championships will feature a strong selection of ten athletes—four men and six women—including standout talents from Akwa Ibom State.
Among those competing under the Nigerian flag are Edidiong Umoafia, a 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist who will battle in the men’s 71kg category, and Ruth Nyong, who is set to represent the country in the women’s 48kg category.
The stakes for the continental championship in Egypt are particularly high, as the event serves as a critical qualification pathway for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Athletes from across the continent will be vying for a spot in the upcoming games, which are slated to take place in Glasgow, Scotland, between July 23 and August 3. With veteran leadership in the officiating booth and elite talent on the platform, Nigeria—through its Akwa Ibom contingents—appears poised for a dominant showing in Ismailia.
