By Ganiyu Salman
Veteran athlete, Mordiyyah Azeez, won a gold medal for Nigeria at the just-concluded 2026 World Masters Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea, which attracted about 11,000 veteran and masters athletes [aged 35 and older] from over 90 countries.
Nigeria finished fourth at Daegu 2026 with two gold and one silver medals.
Toyin Afolabi bagged the second gold for Nigeria in W45 80m hurdles, while Mariam Adedu of the Nigeria Police Force won the silver medal in the W45 400m event.
The World Masters provides veteran athletes with an international platform to continue competing at an elite level after active participation in their various fields.
The historic moment came for Azeez on August 25, 2026 when she churned out a throw of 37.74 metres to grab the gold in the women’s javelin W50.
Azeez, an Assistant Superintendent with the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), was celebrated, especially by her kinsmen following the feat in South Korea.
The Elero of Ileroland, Oba Wasiu Oyedele Saka Olokolonigi II, described the veteran athlete as one of the illustrious daughters of the land.
“This achievement is a source of immense pride to Ileroland, Oyo State and Nigeria, and this achievement will further place the name of the ancient community on the global sporting map.
“I commend Mordiyyah for her determination, discipline and commitment to excellence, particularly her ability to combine a demanding career in the Nigerian Immigration Service with a successful career in athletics.
“The gold medal is not only a personal achievement for the athlete, but also a significant inspiration to the sons and daughters of Ilero, particularly younger people who aspire to excel in sports and other fields of endeavour,” the monarch said in a statement.
Hailed from Ilero in Kajola Local Government Area of Oyo State, the 51-year-old began her sporting career as a pupil of 2nd Baptist Primary School, Ilero from 1981 to 1987.
Her prospect as a professional athlete began to manifest as a student at Ansar-Ud-Deen Comprehensive High School, Ilero.
In her first national outing, Azeez won a bronze medal for Oyo State at the All Nigeria Secondary School competition.
She won the gold at the 1991 and 1992 editions of the MKO Abiola U20 Athletics championships.
At the 1993 National Classics, she won a silver medal, while she also bagged a silver medal at the 1994 All Nigeria Mobil track and field championship.
Azeez came to the limelight when she won a gold medal for Oyo State in heptathlon and bronze in javelin at the 1998 National Sports Festival tagged Imo ‘98.
She represented Lagos State at the 12th National Sports Festival tagged
Bauchi 2000 and won a silver medal in heptathlon and bronze in javelin.
Her international sporting career began in 1997 when she represented Nigeria at the CAA African Junior Athletics Championship tagged Ibadan ‘97 and won a bronze medal in heptathlon.
Azeez also won a silver medal in javelin at the Regional Games in 2001 in Lagos.
She won a gold medal in heptathlon and silver medal in javelin at the 2002 All Nigeria Mobil Athletics Championship and bronze in javelin at the 2003 edition.
After retiring from active sports participation in 2009, Azeez shifted her focus on representing the Nigerian Immigration Service at different para-military games.
She won a gold medal at the Ministry of Interior Games (MIGA) in Kaduna in 2016 and also at the 2018 Games.
Azeez staged a return three years later when she featured at the National Sports Festival Edo 2021 for the FCT Abuja and finished fourth in javelin.
Representing the NIS, she won a bronze medal at the 2022 One Service, One Medal Games [OSOM Games] held in Abuja, which was her last podium appearance before the success story of the Masters Athletics this year.
The Golden Queen as fondly called revealed that she dreamed about being celebrated before her victory at Daegu 2026.
“I give glory to God for this achievement. The journey started in April this year when I heard about the first Masters Athletics Championship to be organised in Nigeria.
“I was fortunate to take part in the first Nigeria Athletics Masters held in Abuja in May this year. What first gave me the courage was that the competition was held in Abuja because it were to be another place, I may not be able to take part in it.
“The truth of the matter is that I had stopped training a long time ago and when this competition was initiated, I summoned courage to take part and I said to myself ‘let me give it a try’.
“In the last two, three years, I always dreamed about seeing myself in a competition where I emerged victorious. I always dismissed the thought because it’s like a joke more so because of my age. I’m over 50 now.
“At the end I put in for four events, shot put, javelin, discus and hammer throw at the first Masters Athletics in Abuja, and I won the gold in all.
“After the competition, I also featured in the second Nigeria Athletics Masters in Benin City in July this year and won three gold medals [in javelin, shot put and discus]. After the competition, we were told that there will be World Masters in August in South Korea and I made up my mind to be part of it. I’m the kind of person who doesn’t give up, I always believe in self-motivation.
“Thank God I received a tremendous support from my office, the Nigeria Immigration Service, to make the trip. My boss inspired me a lot. We got to South Korea and I tried my best in all the events I entered for, javelin, shot put and discus. My victory in javelin came as a miracle. I will say I came, saw and conquer in Korea.
“In fact, It was a long time ago I handled javelin. I think 2022 was my last competition at OSOM Games. So, I must say I returned with the Masters in May in Abuja and the Masters in Benin City before the World Masters in Korea.
“In Korea, my throw of 37.74m was good enough to earn me a gold medal. I had a little time to train and not even with the standard equipment, but my wealth of experience really helped me a lot. If I had had a personal coach and trained for at least two months, I would have performed better. There is another major Masters competition coming up next year in the United States, so, let’s see how far I can go in terms of preparations for the Games. But I give glory to God that He crowned my effort with success in Korea, it was a miracle so to say,” Azeez submits.
On her major regrets as an athlete, she submits philosophically.
“Well, my only regrets was the inability to make Team Nigeria’s squad for the 2003 All Africa Games [COJA Games] but I can still say no.
“I was among the best in the country then and I was in the national camp where only two of us will be selected for COJA 2003.
“During the last trials, I missed out on the chance narrowly, by one centimeter. I threw 47.70m and my teammate had a throw of 47.71m.
“It was a sad moment for me, but I took consolation in the fact that it was how God designed it. That year was tough for me, I shed tears so to say, but that is history. I give glory to God for everything,” Azeez added.
