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History of Bodybuilding in Nigeria

From being seen as a waste of time to producing a Mr. Olympia: how Nigerians embraced bodybuilding, told in our own words, with a verified timeline.

Nigerian bodybuilders backstage at a contest

The story

How Nigerians came to love bodybuilding

Bodybuilding is the practice that is involved with the application of resistance exercise to control and develop the muscle arrangement of the body. In Nigeria today, bodybuilding is known to be a complete sport associated with some large-scale bodybuilding competitions and training organized by bodybuilding associations within the country.

Initially, Nigerians used to regard bodybuilders as wretches that are just misusing their time to develop their musculature so that they could be selected as thugs for dignitaries in the country. However, it now has the meaning which can be described in two aspects today within the country. To start with, bodybuilding is an art because it is the expression of human creative skills and imagination in a visual form for people to appreciate primarily for emotional power or impression.

On the other hand, bodybuilding is a complete sport because it incorporates many types of sporting activities and workouts. And this is exactly the body and all the associated competitions that have drawn many individuals and competitors from across the nation viewpoint where Nigerians have come to understand.

One of the bodybuilding contests that is being organized annually here in Nigeria is known as Mr Flex Nigeria. This is one of the biggest and the leading bodybuilding championship held yearly and is being put in order by Steco Productions. This bodybuilding competition was conducted for the first time in Nigeria on the 29th day of October 2011 at Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos.

A bodybuilder flexing on stage

Verified timeline · checked 29 September 2026

Nigerian bodybuilding timeline

  1. 1990sLagos-raised Dayo Audi wins the 1996 NABBA Mr Britain title.
  2. 2007Nigerian-born Silvio Samuel wins the Dallas Pro and places 7th at Mr. Olympia.
  3. 2011The first Mr Flex Nigeria is held at the Rockview Hotel, Apapa, organised by Steco Productions.
  4. 2015Ifesinachi Ibenne wins Mr Flex Nigeria (2015/2016).
  5. 2017John Henry of Rivers State wins the German national BDBK championship.
  6. 2021Kaduna-born Samson Dauda wins his first pro show, the EVLS Prague Pro.
  7. 2023Dauda wins the Arnold Classic; the IFBB Mr. Universe Nigeria awards the first pro cards on Nigerian soil.
  8. 2024Samson Dauda becomes Mr. Olympia, the first champion born in Nigeria.
  9. 2025Andrew Jacked finishes 3rd at Mr. Olympia; Samuel Akinrolabu wins the IFBB Mr. Universe Nigeria.
  10. 2026Andrew Jacked wins the Arnold Classic; Dauda is 2nd at Mr. Olympia.

Quick answers

History of Nigerian bodybuilding: quick answers

When did bodybuilding become popular in Nigeria?

Bodybuilding grew from gyms in Lagos and Port Harcourt into national contests such as Mr Flex Nigeria, first held in 2011, and the IFBB Mr. Universe Nigeria, which began awarding professional cards in 2023.

Who was the first Nigerian-born IFBB pro winner?

Silvio Samuel, born in Nigeria in 1975, won the Dallas Pro in 2007, the Houston Pro in 2008 and the Iron Man Pro in 2009, and twice finished 7th at Mr. Olympia.