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Rowing · Careers

How to build a rowing career in Nigeria

From the lagoon to the Olympic regatta: how to start safely, how Nigerian rowers qualify, scholarships abroad and careers on the water.

Nigerian rowers and canoeists in green kit train together in their boats on open water

Careers in rowing

Your road to the regatta

Nigeria is a country of lagoons, creeks, rivers and lakes, yet only two Nigerians have ever rowed at the Olympic Games. That is exactly why rowing and its sister sport, canoeing, are such an opportunity. The pioneers are recent: Chierika Ukogu at Rio 2016, Esther Toko at Tokyo 2020, and canoeist Ayomide Bello of Epe, who paddled at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.

This page is for young Nigerians, parents, teachers and coaches curious about a life on the water. It explains how to start safely, how the federation's pathway works, how rowers qualify for the Olympics, the US university scholarships that rowing offers, and the careers around the sport. Every fact was checked on 1 October 2026.

The honest truth: nobody in Nigeria earns a full-time salary from rowing today. The sport is small, boats are expensive and most athletes train with federation equipment. But because the field is small, a hard-working young athlete can reach the national team faster than in almost any other sport.

A Nigerian rower in green and white kit pulls hard in a single scull marked NGR
Team Nigeria in the women's single sculls

Career facts · Checked 1 October 2026

Nigerian rowing in numbers

  • 2

    Olympic rowers

    Chierika Ukogu (2016) and Esther Toko (2020).

  • 4

    African Games golds

    Ayomide Bello in canoe sprint, Rabat 2019.

  • 68

    NCAA women's rowing roster

    Roster limit at opt-in US schools since July 2025.

  • 2028

    Beach sprint debut

    New Olympic rowing events at Los Angeles.

The pathway at a glance

Six stages from the pool to the Olympic regatta

Ages are a guide, not a rule. Ask the federation where your age and fitness fit in.

  1. Any age

    Learn to swim first

    Every rower and canoeist must be safe in water. Learn in a clean, supervised pool, not an open river.

  2. Age 12 to 16

    Try rowing or canoeing

    Contact the federation or a club near water: Lagos Lagoon, Jabi Lake in Abuja or the IBOM club in Akwa Ibom.

  3. Age 14 to 18

    Federation training and trials

    The NRCSF selects athletes for national squads; Esther Toko trained at the National Institute for Sports in Lagos.

  4. Age 15 to 18

    Youth events

    Ayomide Bello raced in four canoe events at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires.

  5. Age 17 and up

    African championships and Games

    Rowing and canoeing were on the 2019 African Games programme, where Bello won four golds.

  6. Senior level

    Olympic or Paralympic qualification

    Ukogu and Toko qualified at African qualification regattas; LA28 adds beach sprint rowing.

Step by step

Seven steps to a rowing career

Safety first, then technique, then racing. Follow these in order.

  1. Become a strong, safe swimmer

    Rowing and canoeing happen on open water, and capsizes happen. Before anything else, learn to swim well in a supervised pool. Coach Seigha Porbeni, a former Director of Sports in Delta State, has warned that not every river or stream is suitable for learning to swim properly. Always wear the buoyancy aid your coach gives you, and never go on the water alone.

  2. Find the water and the people

    The Nigeria Rowing, Canoe and Sailing Federation (NRCSF), led by president Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, runs the sport from the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. It has a canoe training centre at Jabi Lake, Abuja, and set up the IBOM Rowing, Canoeing and Sailing Club in Akwa Ibom State. Ask the federation which club or training group is nearest to you.

  3. Try both rowing and canoeing

    The same federation runs both, and many athletes move between them. Esther Toko started as a canoeist before becoming Nigeria's first home-based Olympic rower. Try both and see where your body and your heart fit best.

  4. Train with a coach, and build your engine

    Rowing rewards endurance, strength and technique. The NRCSF has trained local coaches in partnership with British Rowing. Train with a coach who can correct your stroke early, before bad habits set in.

  5. Race at home, then in Africa

    Results open doors. Six Nigerian athletes raced at the 2017 World Rowing Championships in Sarasota, USA. At the 2019 African Games in Rabat, Glory Abu Semidara finished fifth in the women's single sculls and canoeist Ayomide Bello won four gold medals. Toko also won silver and bronze at the 2019 African Beach Games in Cape Verde.

  6. Qualify through the African regatta

    Both of Nigeria's Olympic rowers qualified at the African Olympic qualification regatta. Chierika Ukogu qualified at the 2015 regatta; Esther Toko qualified for Tokyo by finishing third in the B-final at the 2019 regatta in Tunisia. No Nigerian rower qualified for Paris 2024, so the door for LA28 is wide open.

  7. Consider the university route

    Women's rowing teams at American universities are large, as the rules below show. Ukogu rowed at Stanford University and later went to medical school. See the scholarship rules below.

The big stage

The Olympic and Paralympic picture

Here is where Nigerian rowing and canoeing stand at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and what is changing for Los Angeles 2028.

Nigerians in Olympic and Paralympic rowing and canoeing
GamesAthleteEventResult
London 2012Jonathan AkinyemiCanoe slalom, men's K1Heats
Rio 2016Chierika UkoguRowing, women's single sculls20th
Rio 2016Jonathan AkinyemiCanoe slalom, men's K120th
Tokyo 2020Esther TokoRowing, women's single sculls30th
Tokyo 2020Ayomide BelloCanoe sprint, women's C1 200 mCompeted
Tokyo 2020 ParalympicsKingsley Okoroafor IjomahPara rowing, men's single scullsCompeted
Paris 2024Ayomide Bello and Beauty OtuedoCanoe sprint, women's C2 500 mQuarter-finals

Beach sprint rowing: a new chance at LA28

At Los Angeles 2028 (14 to 30 July), beach sprint rowing replaces the lightweight double sculls, with individual events for men and women and a mixed double sculls event. With Nigeria's long Atlantic coastline, and Esther Toko's medals at the 2019 African Beach Games, this is a format worth watching.

Para rowing

Rowing is also a Paralympic sport. Kingsley Okoroafor Ijomah rowed the men's single sculls at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics after winning gold at the 2019 African qualification regatta in Tunis. Read more on our Paralympic careers page.

Note that rowing has not been part of the Commonwealth Games since 1986, so Nigerian rowers aim for the Olympics, the African Games and African championships.

Abroad

University scholarships: the rules

A US university scholarship is one of the few ways rowing can pay for itself. Women's rowing teams in the American college system are large, which gives athletes a real chance.

  • Since 1 July 2025, schools that opt in to the new NCAA system use roster limits instead of scholarship caps. The limit for women's rowing is 68 athletes, and schools may award full or partial scholarships to any or all rostered athletes.
  • International students must complete 16 NCAA-approved core courses and reach a core GPA of at least 2.3 for Division I or 2.2 for Division II.
  • Send official transcripts from year nine onward, with certified English translations where needed, and proof of graduation to the NCAA Eligibility Center.

Chierika Ukogu, born in Philadelphia to a Nigerian family, rowed at Stanford, chose to represent Nigeria and raised about US$15,000 online to fund her road to Rio. After the Games she went to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Her story shows that rowing and education can go together.

Pay

Money in rowing: the honest picture

Be clear-eyed about money in Nigerian rowing.

  • No professional league exists. We found no verified salary or prize money for Nigerian rowers.
  • Equipment is shared. Boats are expensive, so athletes usually train in federation or club boats. In one boost, Mutual Benefits Assurance donated 20 boats to the federation.
  • Funding comes from grants and sponsors. Ukogu crowdfunded her Olympic campaign. Ask the federation about national training support, and keep studying or working alongside your sport.

Beyond racing

Careers around the water

Water sports need many skilled people on the bank as well as in the boat.

Careers around Nigerian rowing and canoeing
CareerHow to startWhere it can lead
CoachAsk the NRCSF about its coaching courses; the federation has trained local coaches with British Rowing.Club, state and national team coaching
Umpire or officialVolunteer at regattas and ask the federation how officials are trained and certified.National and international regattas
Safety boat crew and lifeguardLearn to swim strongly and take a recognised water safety or lifeguard course.Regattas, clubs, beaches and waterside resorts
Boat care and repairHelp your club maintain its boats and oars, and learn from experienced riggers.Club and federation boat management
PhysiotherapistStudy physiotherapy and register with the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board of Nigeria.Team medical staff

Stay safe

Water safety and clean sport

Water is beautiful and dangerous. These rules protect you.

Water safety rules for young rowers and canoeists

  • Learn to swim in a supervised pool before you train on open water.
  • Always wear the buoyancy aid or life jacket your coach provides.
  • Never go on the water alone, and always tell someone on shore where you are going.
  • Do not train in storms, strong currents or poor light.
  • Listen to your coach about capsize drills, and practise them in calm water first.

Rowing athletes are also subject to anti-doping rules. Nigeria's National Anti-Doping Act, signed in 2025, created the Nigeria Anti-Doping Centre. Check every medicine and supplement before you take it.

Advice from the stars

Advice for young Nigerians on the water

Every quote below was checked word for word against the outlet named under it. We add one practical lesson to each.

  • Yes, there is water everywhere in Nigeria; however, not every water source, in the case of rivers and streams, is suitable to teach professional swimming.

    Seigha PorbeniCoach and former Director of Sports, Delta State
    The Guardian (Nigeria), 7 August 2025

    The lesson: Learn to swim safely in a pool before you row on open water.

  • When we take care of our athletes, they will take care of the country by winning medals.

    Bukola OlopadeDirector General, National Sports Commission
    Sports247, 10 February 2026

    The lesson: Build a record so the federation can put you forward for national support.

Your first move

Where to start this week

Ready to get on the water? Start this week:

  • If you cannot swim well, book swimming lessons at a supervised pool.
  • Contact the Nigeria Rowing, Canoe and Sailing Federation and ask where you can try rowing or canoeing.
  • Ask about sessions at Jabi Lake in Abuja, on the Lagos Lagoon or at the IBOM club in Akwa Ibom.
  • Start building fitness: running, swimming and core strength all help.
  • Keep your school grades up if a US university scholarship interests you.
  • Parents and coaches: ask the federation about youth programmes and safety rules.

The federation's address is on our Contact the NRCSF page, and the pioneers are profiled on Nigerian rowers and canoeists.

Keep exploring

Explore rowing in Nigeria

Quick answers

Rowing careers in Nigeria: your questions

Has Nigeria competed in Olympic rowing?

Yes, twice. Chierika Ukogu rowed the women's single sculls at Rio 2016 and finished 20th, and Esther Toko, the first home-based Nigerian rower at the Games, finished 30th at Tokyo 2020. No Nigerian rower qualified for Paris 2024.

Where can I learn to row or canoe in Nigeria?

Contact the Nigeria Rowing, Canoe and Sailing Federation at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. It has a canoe training centre at Jabi Lake, Abuja, and set up the IBOM Rowing, Canoeing and Sailing Club in Akwa Ibom State.

Do I need to swim before I row?

Yes. Rowing and canoeing take place on open water and boats can capsize, so learn to swim well in a supervised pool first and always wear the buoyancy aid your coach provides.

Can rowing get me a US university scholarship?

It can. Under NCAA roster limits that started on 1 July 2025 at opt-in schools, women's rowing teams can carry 68 athletes, and schools may give full or partial scholarships. You need 16 NCAA core courses and a core GPA of at least 2.3 for Division I.

How do Nigerian rowers qualify for the Olympics?

Both qualified at the African Olympic qualification regatta. Chierika Ukogu qualified at the 2015 regatta and Esther Toko at the 2019 regatta in Tunisia, where she finished third in the B-final.

What is beach sprint rowing?

A new Olympic rowing format for Los Angeles 2028. It replaces the lightweight double sculls, with individual events for men and women and a mixed double sculls event.

Is there para rowing in Nigeria?

Yes. Kingsley Okoroafor Ijomah rowed the men's single sculls at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics after winning gold at the 2019 African qualification regatta in Tunis.