President of the Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF), Mrs Olabisi Joseph, has been elected Continental President for Africa of the International School Sport Federation (ISF) during the 2026 ISF General Assembly held in Belgrade, Serbia.
The election, which attracted delegates from 82 countries, saw 79 votes cast. Joseph’s victory makes her the first African woman and the first woman in the history of the federation to occupy the continental leadership position.
Her election is being celebrated as a significant milestone for Nigeria and a reflection of the country’s growing influence in the development and administration of school sports across Africa.
In a statement signed by NSSF Secretary-General, Oba Funsho, the federation congratulated Joseph and expressed confidence in her ability to make a meaningful impact during her tenure.
“We congratulate her and wish her a successful and impactful tenure,” the statement read.
Joseph is no stranger to breaking barriers in school sports administration. In 2019, she became the first female President of the Nigeria School Sport Federation after emerging unopposed during the federation’s elective congress at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.
Before becoming president, she served as Secretary of the federation and played a key role in the development of school sports programmes across the country. She was re-elected for a second term as NSSF President during the federation’s Annual General Meeting held in Lagos in 2024.
Her latest achievement is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s voice in continental sports policy and create new opportunities for collaboration among African nations in promoting school sports development.
Stakeholders believe her leadership could help advance grassroots sports programmes, talent discovery initiatives and educational sporting exchanges across the continent.
