About The Founder

Chioma Ajunwa (MON)

Dr. Mrs Chioma Ajunwa Oparah, MON, OLY, DCP (Rtd) (born 25 December 1971) – also known as Chioma Ajunwa – is a Nigerian former track and field athlete and football player, notable for becoming the first Nigerian to win gold at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, and the first black African woman to win an Olympic gold medal in a field event.

In December 2017, Ajunwa launched the Chioma Ajunwa-Opara Foundation to discover new Nigerian stars in sports.

Olympic Champion

Philanthropist

Mentor

Early Life

Born into what she describes as "a very poor home", Ahiazu-Mbaise-native Ajunwa was the last of nine children, with six brothers and two sisters. Her father died while she was still young, leaving his wife to solely support a large family. At 18, Ajunwa, who had been a keen athletics participant during her school years, gained admission into university but was unable to register due to her mother's inability to pay the fees, and opted to become a motor mechanic instead, but abandoned the idea following her mother's disapproval.

Career

Football

Ajunwa's Transition to Football

As a professional sportswoman, Ajunwa originally played football for the Nigerian women's team and was a member of The Falcons during the Women's World Cup in 1991, but as she was constantly benched, her skill was seldom used. Of her short-lived football career Ajunwa has stated "I've not regretted the decision (to leave football) because I've made my mark in athletics. I could have continued with football but there was a particular coach. He knew then that I was the best player in the team but he decided to keep me on the bench throughout every match so I left the team's camp." She played as an attacker.

Ajunwa's Transition to Football

Track and Field

Ajunwa's Track and Field Excellence

Ajunwa performed as a track and field athlete and specialized in the 100m, 200m and long jump. She competed at the 1990 Commonwealth Games, winning a bronze medal in the 4 x 100 meters relay, and competed at the African Championships in 1989 and the All Africa Games in 1991 where she won gold medals in the long jump. Ajunwa was banned from the sport for four years after failing a drug test in 1992 despite maintaining her innocence. Following the completion of her suspension, Ajunwa went on to become the first West-African woman, as well as the first Nigerian, to win an Olympic gold medal in a track and field event when she emerged victorious in the women's long jump event at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, with a jump length of 7.12 meters (on her first attempt) during the final.

Ajunwa's Track and Field Excellence

Recognition

Member of the Order of Niger (MON)

Chioma Ajunwa Member of the Order of Niger

Following her Olympic gold medal at Atlanta '96, Ajunwa was given a national award – Member of the Order of Niger (MON) – by the then Head of State of Nigeria Sani Abacha, but complained that she was overlooked compared to the Nigerian football team claiming "I was given the MON award, right, but without 'E-Y.' When I heard of what was given to my brothers in the Super Eagles for winning the Nations Cup, I was amazed because you can see the difference…I'm not envious of anybody but this is the time to express my feelings that I deserve more."

Chioma Ajunwa Member of the Order of Niger

Nigeria Golden Jubilee Independence Awards

On 1 October 2010, Nigeria celebrated its 50th Independence anniversary. As part of that celebration, on Thursday 30 September 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan conferred special Golden Jubilee Independence Awards on 50 distinguished Nigerians and friends of Nigeria including Ajunwa for their contributions to the development of the country.

Nigeria Golden Jubilee Independence Awards

Appointments and Memberships

• Chairperson of the Women's Development Committee of Imo State Football Association (2011)
• Member of Committee on the Revival of the Nigeria Academicals Sports Competitions (2011)
• Assistant Commissioner of Police (2018)