Ladipo, Sulaiman Elected into Nigeria Rugby Federation Board

By Arinzechi Chukwunonso

The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) has ushered in a new chapter of leadership with the election of Azeez Ladipo as Athletes’ Representative and Angulu Sulaiman as Technical Representative on its board for the next four years.

The peaceful elections saw Ladipo secure victory with 16 votes, while Sulaiman won emphatically by a 28–1 margin after his opponent, Ntiesse Williams, stepped down moments before voting began.

In his acceptance speech, Ladipo underscored his commitment to prioritizing player welfare and building performance pathways for the future of Nigerian rugby.

“The first thing to concentrate on is welfare,” he said. “We have to look at issues of insurance, medical support, concussion management, and ensuring ambulances are present at every rugby match. Players representing Nigeria must also enjoy proper bonuses and support.” he said.

The former Lagos Rugby Club product also highlighted long-term development structures as a key focus. “We need to put in place a pathway system — Under-14, Under-16, Under-19, Under-20 — to prepare the next generation of players.

“There’s no reason Nigeria shouldn’t be competing in the Africa Under-20 Barthés Cup. Beyond that, regional competitions against Ghana, Togo, and others will help us grow the game. I’ll continue to advocate for grassroots investment, especially through schools and community rugby, because if you catch them young, the results are lasting,” he added.

On his part, Sulaiman dedicated his victory to the wider rugby family in Nigeria, stressing unity and collective growth. “This victory is not mine alone. It belongs to all stakeholders, coaches, and board members. Even my opponent is my mentor in rugby; his decision to step down shows the spirit of family we share,” Sulaiman stated.

“My mission is to elevate the status of rugby and, in particular, to improve the position of coaches in the country.”

NRFF President Ademola Are, who supervised the elections, praised the spirit of harmony that prevailed. “There was no tension or fear. Everyone came together to put aside personal ambition for the growth of rugby. This is the kind of unity we need for consolidation in the next four years,” he remarked.

Are further outlined the federation’s priorities for his new term, including the expansion of grassroots rugby, especially through school sports, the second phase of the Rugby Rising initiative, and increased focus on female participation.

“If you don’t catch them young, you can’t catch them when they’re old. Schools remain the foundation, and with Rugby rising part two set to kick off in two weeks, we are ready to roll.

What we need now is more sponsorship support, because without funding, success will be limited,” he noted.