Mrs. Faustina Dininye Yekini has been elected President of the Karate Federation of Nigeria (KFN), becoming the first woman to lead the federation in its 50-year history. Her victory was announced during the KFN General Assembly in Abuja, where she secured 78 percent of the votes from delegates representing the 36 states and the FCT. The development is being hailed as a major step forward for inclusivity and recognition of women in Nigerian sports.
Yekini’s election comes at a time when Nigerian karate is gaining significant continental visibility. In July, the country successfully hosted the 2025 African Karate Championships in Abuja with over 1,000 athletes from 31 countries competing, and Nigeria finished third overall with 12 gold medals. Her leadership is expected to build on this momentum as the federation shifts attention toward future global competitions.
A 5th Dan black belt with more than 25 years of experience in the sport, Yekini represented Nigeria at the 2004 Athens Olympic qualifiers and has served as a coach for national athletes who went on to win medals at various championships. Until her election, she held the position of Vice President of KFN from 2020 to 2025, during which she led initiatives that boosted participation of young people and women in karate—recording a 40 percent increase through community-focused training programmes.
Outgoing President Silas Agara, recently appointed 4th Vice President of the Union of African Karate Federations (UFAK), praised her as a visionary leader capable of taking Nigeria to Olympic medal status when karate returns to the Games in 2028. In her acceptance remarks, Yekini expressed readiness to expand grassroots development, improve sporting infrastructure, and strengthen international partnerships to ensure Nigeria remains competitive at both continental and global levels.
Her election marks a historic shift within the federation and sets a new standard for leadership representation in Nigerian martial arts as she assumes office with high expectations from athletes, coaches, and the sporting community nationwide.