By Ben Efe 16.2.2026
Nigeria’s former international sprinter and presently one of the country’s best sprint and relay coaches Endurance Ojokolo has crossed over to the middle east for greener pastures.
According to athletics sources Ojokolo may have secured a job in Saudi Arabia joining the likes Enefiok Odo-Obong and Michael Lati Obisesan who has worked in the Kingdom for more than a decade.
Ojokolo who usually does no dodge a question thrown to her did not confirm or deny the development when quizzed for a comment, but from all indications she would not be coaching Nigerian athletes for the time being. She was ones of the coaches that were invited to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria camping exercise for the Commonwealth Games.
The former sprinter was the only female athlete in her generation to become a coach, Ojokolo is specialised in grassroots development of athletes and one her athletes include Itseoritse Itsekiri.
Ojokolo is a two-time African champion and African Games silver medalist in 2003, a race she lost on the finish line to rival Mary Onyali. She competed at one Olympic Games, and two World Championships finishing in the top eight. Last year she was coach of the relay and sprint team to the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo Japan.
It was gathered that more Nigerian athletes may be working their way out of the country to get the much financial freedom they desire. Last week sprinter Favour Ashe confirmed that he has joined Qatar where a number of Nigerian athletes have already pitched their tents.
