Sport is one area that is dear to Nigerians and has served as a unifying force over the years. It is in this area that Chioma Ajunwa-Opara carved a niche for herself and brought fame, glory, and honour to Nigeria. Born on Christmas Day in 1970, and an indigene of Ahiazu, Mbaise in Imo State, Ajunwa is a multi-talented sportswoman. She is a retired track and field athlete of distinction who has represented Nigeria in 100 metres, 200 metres, and long jump at various competitions.
She had also won gold medals for Nigeria in the long jump at the African Championship in 1989 and the All-Africa Games in 1991. She won a bronze medal in the 4 x 100 metres relay at the Commonwealth Games in Auckland in 1990. This dexterous athlete made history at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, USA, where she won a gold medal in the long jump. She made history by being the first Nigerian to win an individual Olympic gold medal. On her first attempt, she made a jump length of 7.2 meters in the final to capture the gold medal. This feat also made her the first black woman to win an Olympic gold medal in a field competition. For achieving that performance, she was promised a house which was never redeemed. However, in 2022, Governor Babajide Sanwolu of Lagos State gave her a three-bedroom flat in fulfillment of that promise.
She is also a former national women’s team footballer. As a professional footballer, she was a member of the Nigerian women’s national football team, The Falcons, which participated in FIFA’s Women’s World Cup in 1991.
She has remained the pride of Nigeria and a source of inspiration to young athletes. Apart from athletics, Chioma Ajunwa accepted and discharged other responsibilities such as Chairman of the Women’s Development Committee of Imo State Football Association 2011; and Member of Committee on the Revival of Nigeria Academicals Sports Competitions, 2011.
She launched a foundation, Chioma Ajunwa Foundation, in 2017 to hunt for and support new and upcoming stars in sports. She has used the Foundation to support youth sports, including the Under-16 football competition. Under the auspices of the Foundation, she celebrated widows during the 2022 yuletide.
In recognition of her exceptional talents, patriotism, and unparallel contributions to nation-building, she was conferred with the national award of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON). She was also conferred with Special Golden Jubilee Independence Award by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010, for her contribution to the development of Nigeria. She has also been conferred with a chieftaincy title by Imo State. Ajunwa has been a member of the Nigeria Police Force where she rose to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in May 2023. She retired from the Force in August 2023, after 35 years of meritorious service. In her retirement, she intends to focus on her Foundation.
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