Sports
PATRICIA Aiyenuro, President of British Fencing, has described the 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships in Lagos as a landmark moment for Nigeria and Commonwealth fencing.
Aiyenuro spoke on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) ahead of the championships scheduled to hold in Lagos from Aug. 9 to Aug. 19.
She said hosting the championships in Lagos would expand fencing, create fresh opportunities for athletes and prove major international competitions could succeed beyond traditional host nations.
“I am genuinely excited to see the Commonwealth Fencing Championships taking place in Lagos. It is an important milestone for Nigeria and Commonwealth fencing.
“Hosting major championships in different regions expands the sport, creates opportunities for athletes and shows world-class events can be successfully hosted beyond traditional nations,” she said.
According to Aiyenuro, the championships extend beyond medal success by celebrating diversity within fencing while strengthening relationships among Commonwealth member nations through shared sporting experiences.
“The championships are about more than winning medals. They celebrate our fencing community’s diversity and strengthen relationships between member nations,” she said.
Assessing Nigeria’s readiness, Aiyenuro said the Nigeria Fencing Federation had gained valuable organisational and technical experience through previous international tournaments hosted across the country.
She said the federation had consistently improved its operational standards while benefiting from stronger collaboration with international partners and the wider global fencing community.
“Hosting the Commonwealth Championships is a major task, but the federation has demonstrated commitment, professionalism and ambition needed to deliver successfully,” she said.
Aiyenuro expressed confidence that Lagos would stage a highly competitive championship featuring excellent hospitality, efficient organisation and an exciting atmosphere for athletes, officials and supporters.
She described Lagos as a vibrant city, expressing hope competitors and officials would enjoy outstanding competition alongside Nigeria’s renowned hospitality throughout the championships.
She added that hosting the event would inspire more young Nigerians to embrace fencing while raising awareness and participation nationwide through its lasting sporting legacy.
“Major sporting events often leave a lasting legacy by increasing participation and raising awareness of the sport,” she said.
Aiyenuro said the championships would increase fencing’s visibility, improve coaching and officiating standards and create opportunities for volunteers and event organisers across Nigeria.
She added that successfully staging the championships would strengthen international confidence in Nigeria’s hosting capabilities while attracting investors and promoting sports tourism.
“It will provide economic benefits through tourism and showcase Nigeria to the wider Commonwealth sporting family.
“Perhaps most importantly, it gives young athletes the chance to watch elite competition on home soil, which can be incredibly inspiring,” she added.
Discussing England’s prospects, Aiyenuro acknowledged the country’s strong athlete development system but said other Commonwealth nations had significantly strengthened their fencing programmes.
“I expect England to remain highly competitive, but other Commonwealth countries are now equally competitive,” she said.
She predicted medals would be more widely distributed, citing India, Jamaica, Wales, Australia, South Africa, Canada, Singapore, Mauritius, Kenya and hosts Nigeria as serious contenders.
“I expect keen competition across all three weapons, and no team can take success for granted,” Aiyenuro said.
Reviewing Nigeria’s fencing development, she described progress as encouraging, highlighting investments in athletes, coaches and competitions alongside improving continental and international performances.
She, however, identified infrastructure, funding and regular access to elite competitions as major challenges requiring sustained attention to maintain Nigeria’s upward trajectory.
“The direction is positive, and the enthusiasm within the Nigerian fencing community is evident.
“Continued investment in grassroots participation, coach education and youth development will be important in sustaining that progress,” she said.
On Nigeria’s Olympic ambitions, Aiyenuro expressed optimism that qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Games remained achievable through sustained investment and consistent elite performances.
“Nigeria has shown it can produce talented fencers and has a strong chance of qualifying for Los Angeles 2028 with sustained investment,” she said.
She stressed Nigeria must continue building a sustainable high-performance programme, whether qualification comes through rankings or continental pathways, benefiting future generations of athletes.
The NAN reports that Aiyenuro became the first Black woman to lead a national sports association in Europe as President of British Fencing.
She also serves as an Executive Committee member of the Fédération Internationale d’Escrime (FIE), the sport’s global governing body. (NAN)
A.I
July 18, 2026
Tags: Lagos fencing Patricia Aiyenuro