By Tolulope Oguntimehin 

President of the Nigeria Badminton Federation, Francis Orbih, has praised Mariam Eniola for her outstanding achievement of winning a bronze medal at the ongoing 2024 Summer Paralympics in France. Eniola's historic performance marks her as the first African athlete to win a medal in Para-Badminton, after defeating Ukrainian opponent Oksana Kozyna in straight sets (21-9, 21-9) in the women’s Singles SL3.

Speaking at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, Orbih expressed his pride in Eniola's accomplishment, emphasizing that the entire badminton community, and indeed all Nigerians, are thrilled to be part of this historic moment. He attributed Eniola’s success to the support and encouragement provided by the federation, which exposed her to international play ahead of the Paralympics.

Orbih also expressed confidence that Eniola's bronze medal is just the beginning, predicting that by the 2028 Paralympic Games, she will have the experience and skill to clinch gold for Nigeria. He stated, "At just 18, Eniola has already made history, and with continued support, we believe she will become a world champion. Her victory sets the stage for even greater achievements in Para-Badminton for Nigeria."