Kachollom Enyenihi Takes Role as First Women’s Development Director in Archery

Abdullahi Mohammed, the President of the Archery Federation of Nigeria, has appointed Kachollom Enyenihi, a distinguished archer with multiple medals, as the Women Development Director. This role marks a historic move, being the first of its kind within the federation.

The appointment is part of an initiative to boost women's engagement in archery and extend the sport's reach in local communities across Nigeria.

Kachollom Enyenihi is recognized as one of Nigeria's top female archers and has represented the country at regional competitions. Affiliated with the Arch Archery Club in Abuja, she attained both silver and bronze medals in the recent World Archery Africa Championships held in South Africa and Tunisia in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

In her vision for the position, Kachollom aims to enhance accessibility and establish a systematic approach to cultivate female archers. She emphasized, “My plan for female archery in Nigeria is to create a well-defined pathway from grassroots to elite levels by introducing archery in schools and communities, and setting up regional training facilities with certified coaches, including a greater number of female coaches.”

She highlighted that increasing involvement at both school and community levels is crucial for sustainable growth.

Kachollom also pointed out the significance of collaborations to dismantle obstacles that have traditionally restricted women from participating in the sport. Her strategy includes organizing female-only and mixed competitions, alongside securing partnerships with the National Federation, corporate sponsors, and governmental bodies to provide necessary resources such as equipment, scholarships, and international exposure. The ultimate objective is to eliminate access barriers and ensure equal representation, enabling the development of competent and confident female archers who can excel at national and continental competitions and serve as inspirations for upcoming generations.

This appointment comes at a pivotal moment as stakeholders endeavor to redefine archery as a competitive and inclusive sport in Nigeria, with an emphasis on increasing institutional support and visibility.

Alongside Kachollom, other notable appointments within the federation have been announced, including Emmanuel Oyeleke as Director of Marketing, Olatayo Olasehinde as Director of Strategy and ICT, and Akogun Abimbola as Director of Grassroots Development, among others. Officials assert that these changes are geared towards enhancing governance, creating more sponsorship opportunities, and engaging more deeply with grassroots levels to nurture strong talent pipelines for domestic and international competitions.