The Republic of Benin emerged as the overall winner of the inaugural West Africa Regional Rowing Regatta, showcasing exceptional dominance in the competition held at the Bics Boat Club, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
The three-day event, which ran from Nov. 21 to Nov. 23, featured intense competition between Nigeria and Benin Republic. Benin secured an impressive haul of four gold, four silver, and one bronze medal to top the medal table. Nigeria followed with one gold, one silver, and one bronze medal.
In the Single Skull Men’s category, Benin claimed all three podium spots, with Hounyeme Jean winning gold with a time of 2:58:16, Laurent Hoyessou taking silver at 3:09:05, and Elikana Jacques earning bronze at 31:12:45.
For the Single Skull Women’s event, Benin continued their dominance as Felicine Agossou claimed gold with 3:37:33, followed by teammate Appoline Adjamu, who secured silver with 3:09:05. Nigeria’s Esther Toko won bronze with a time of 3:44:90.
In the Double Skull Men’s category, Benin’s duo of Kodoko Rene and Laurent Hoyessou clinched gold with a time of 2:49:20, while their compatriots Akpo Ronain and Andre Hounsoukperi took silver at 2:56:76. Nigeria’s team of Tijani Taofeek and Elikana Jacob secured bronze.
The mixed doubles and double sail categories also saw Benin sweeping gold, silver, and bronze medals, further cementing their dominance.
The President of the Nigeria Rowing Federation (NRF), Festus Porbeni, praised the event, describing it as a significant milestone for rowing in Nigeria. “This is a great development for our federation. It’s a step towards popularizing rowing and encouraging youth participation in the sport,” Porbeni said.
He noted the need for more African qualifiers to boost the sport’s recognition on the global stage, adding that the competition’s full potential was limited by a dispute between the host club and the Lagos State Government, which deterred other nations from participating.
NRF Coach Amidu Jimoh emphasized the importance of state-level development for rowing, urging state associations to invest in the sport. Meanwhile, Nigerian bronze medalist Esther Toko appealed for greater government support, saying, “Rowing needs more encouragement and attention to thrive in Nigeria.”
The regatta’s success highlights the growing potential for rowing in West Africa and sets the stage for future editions.
