Nene Joy Ojo Earns Sports Nomination at The Future Awards Africa 2026

Posted : 12 November 2026

Nigerian boxer Nene Joy Ojo has earned a nomination in the Sports Category of The Future Awards Africa 2026, adding another recognition to her growing career in amateur and professional boxing.

Ojo is among five athletes shortlisted for the prestigious award at the 20th edition of the ceremony. Her nomination follows a series of impressive performances that have established her as one of Nigeria's promising female boxing talents.

According to the nomination announcement published by the organisers, Ojo will compete against Botswana's Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo, Nigerian footballer Ashleigh Plumptre, Nigerian athletics star Tobi Amusan and Kenyan distance runner Emmanuel Wanyonyi.

The shortlist brings together athletes from different sporting disciplines whose performances have contributed to African sports on the international stage.

Ojo's nomination recognises her achievements in continental boxing competitions, where she has won four gold medals for Nigeria. One of her notable accomplishments came at the 2023 African Games, where she represented the country in the boxing competition.

Her success at the continental level has strengthened her reputation as an emerging force in Nigerian women's boxing.

The boxer took another important step in her career in August 2024 when she turned professional. She made an encouraging start in the paid ranks, recording three victories within her first six months as a professional fighter.

Her transition to professional boxing reflects her ambition to build on her amateur achievements and compete at a higher level of the sport.

The nomination also highlights the growing recognition of Nigerian female athletes across different sporting disciplines. Women's participation in combat sports has continued to attract attention, with athletes such as Ojo contributing to the country's presence in international boxing.

The 2026 edition of The Future Awards Africa marks the organisation's 20th anniversary. The awards recognise young Africans aged between 18 and 35 who have demonstrated excellence, innovation, leadership and meaningful contributions across different sectors.

This year's edition carries the theme, Celebrating The Redefiners: Africa's AI Generation, with nominees recognised across several categories, including sports, technology, entertainment, business and public service.

For Ojo, the nomination provides further recognition of her achievements and places her among a distinguished group of African sporting talents.

The winner of the Sports Prize will be announced at the awards ceremony, where the shortlisted athletes will compete for one of the platform's major sporting honours.

Nene Joy Ojo Earns Sports Nomination at The Future Awards Africa 2026

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