Nigeria to Host First Professional Bodybuilding Championship in 2026

Posted : 28 October 2025

Nigeria will host the IFBB West Africa Championships in April 2026 alongside the launch of a national Fitness and Bodybuilding League.

The International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) has confirmed that Nigeria will host the IFBB West Africa Championships in April 2026, marking the country’s first-ever professional bodybuilding event. The occasion will also feature the official launch of a national Fitness and Bodybuilding League, a move designed to strengthen Nigeria’s presence in the global bodybuilding scene.

President of IFBB Nigeria, Soye Elekima, described the upcoming professional event and national league as a major step in advancing Nigeria’s sports development agenda. He noted that the IFBB’s decision followed the successful hosting of the Mr Universe Nigeria competition, held from October 10 to 12 at the Muson Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Elekima stated that the championship would attract elite athletes from across Africa and beyond, while the new league would create a structured pathway for Nigerian bodybuilders to progress from amateur to professional levels. He emphasized that both initiatives align with the IFBB Nigeria’s broader mission to promote health, fitness, and sports entrepreneurship nationwide.

“Nigeria will be hosting a professional event in April 2026,” Elekima said. “We are also starting a Fitness and Bodybuilding League in collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), and other major stakeholders.”

According to him, the league aims to nurture emerging talent, encourage grassroots participation, and ensure sustained growth in the sport, while the professional event will place Nigeria firmly on the global bodybuilding map.

Elekima highlighted Nigeria’s rising profile in the sport, referencing the international achievements of stars like Samuel Dauda, Andrew Jacks, and David Bodebi.

Meanwhile, Samuel Akinrolabu from Rivers State clinched the overall gold medal at the Mr Universe Nigeria competition, which featured athletes from over 12 countries, including the United States, Spain, Ghana, and Sierra Leone. Akinrolabu, along with David Zacheaus Gold of Ondo, earned a professional bodybuilding card, granting them eligibility to compete in global IFBB Pro League events.

Alfred Sogomote of Bayelsa claimed bronze, while Edward Achi, a Nigeria Police officer representing Kaduna, also secured gold in his category.

Elekima praised the athletes’ performances, describing them as evidence of Nigeria’s growing investment in grassroots bodybuilding and athletic development. The IFBB-sanctioned event, judged by international officials, underscores Nigeria’s emerging influence in the global bodybuilding community.

Nigeria to Host First Professional Bodybuilding Championship in 2026

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