Tega Onojaife: Fighting for equality in Africa through sport

Tega Onojaife is blazing a trail for African women in sport.

Her story as a leader begins in 2006, when she ditched her city job to become a full-time sports broadcaster.

In an industry that is especially dominated by men in Nigeria, she quickly became a role model for young girls wanting to follow in her footsteps.

But Onojaife wasn’t content at simply being on TV.

She decided to create Ladies in Sports - an annual conference that aims to create opportunities for women in the industry, from journalists to administrators.

Today, Onojaife is one of the most influential figures in Nigerian sport.

Olympic Channel sat down with the pioneer to find out more about her fascinating journey, the barriers she has had to overcome, and how she plans to further empower women in the future.

Don’t forget to also check out our new channel Celebrating International Women’s Day, where you can relive iconic female performances at the Olympics for the whole of March 2021.

Overcoming social barriers in sports media

When Tega Onojaife first graduated from university she wanted to, in her own words, ‘make as much money as possible.’

In Nigeria, that meant working in either the finance or the oil industries, and thus her career in banking began.

_“_I was there for nearly three years, but I was bored and I wasn't enjoying the job at all,” she told Olympic Channel.

After finishing her day job, Onojaife would engage in her real passion by reporting on (initially American) sports for a local TV station in the evening.

The double shifts were tough, but she did it because of her love for sport.

That passion ran so deep, in fact, that she called in sick the day after the men's 2006 FIFA World Cup final, when Zinadine Zidane infamously got sent off for headbutting, as Italy ran out 1-0 winners over France.

“I have no French affiliation, but was also so distraught that he would not win the MVP!” she revealed with a smile.

Unbeknown to her parents, she quit her job in finance the next day to concentrate on sports broadcasting full-time.

Six months later - and only once she had a stable pay packet in place - Onojaife let them know. It was a mixed reception.

“My father was great,” she continued. “He always knew I loved sport.”

“But my mom was like, 'That is not a career! How can presenting on television be your career?’

“When she realised I was good at what I was doing, then the pride came.”

That reaction from her mother was typical of the others Onojaife received when she stepped into sports broadcasting in Nigeria.

“I was covering the international desk, which was men’s sports,” she said.

_“_I remember the first day I walked into a TV station. There were three men sitting on the table arguing about a game that happened the day before. My friend brought me in, telling them that I like sports and would like to intern with them. All three men laughed and fell off the table.

“That is how women were treated in sport. We were an afterthought. They didn't take us seriously.”

Setting up Ladies in Sports

However, Onojaife’s relaxed and friendly demeanor masked her iron will to make a change.

She was sent to cover a women’s football competition, and was shocked with the scale of its disorganisation.

“Everything was horrible. From the stadium to the jerseys they were wearing.”

She decided to do something about it, and created the Ladies in Sport conference.

_“_I used my connections in the finance sector, and invited the administrators to a small conference where they could meet and discuss how they could improve investment and performance in women’s sport. The first one was for literally 50 people.”

A successful debut meant that the conference quickly expanded to a large-scale event.

These days, in addition to networking, it provides training, workshops, financial support, and a platform to succeed.

“We celebrate achievements,” she continued. “Every year we have at least five women from the different sporting areas that really had an excellent year. We give them grants, we give them awards, and we make noise about them on radio or T.V.

“Sport is a career for women too, and we just want equal opportunity in sports.”

The conference has helped transform the look and attitude of sports broadcasting in Nigeria.

Where Onojaife was once laughed at for expressing an opinion, people now treat her with respect.

“Those three guys sitting at the table and laughing at me are now my colleagues, and listen to what I have to say because they can see how I've been successful in the industry," she said.

But perhaps even more important, is the number of women who now also have jobs in the Nigerian sports media.

Nigeria's medal hopefuls at Tokyo 2020

Despite a comparative lack of sporting infrastructure compared to many other nations, Africa’s largest population could still win several medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in 2021.

It’s also interesting to note that in wrestlers Odunayo Adekuoroye and Blessing Oborududu, long jumper Blessing Okagbare, and hurdler Tobi Amusan, Nigeria’s top hopes are mostly women.

“In Africa, the average person I know is involved in some kind of sport,” she said.

“So the talent is already there and all we need now is to harness it.

"I think that we are maybe one Olympic Games away from winning a gold medal. I think we're going to get medals."

But Onojaife’s work improves far more than just women's lives.

She believes that sport is the most effective tool to bring about positive change in almost every part of Nigerian society.

“It’s the one thing that pops up across every sector,” she said. 

“It impacts education, health, and economic growth. Governments can use sport as a tool for development, with something as simple as a community centre.

“But policy is everything because the only reason private companies will invest, is to reap some benefits from the government.”

As the pioneering broadcaster's influence continues to grow, Nigeria's sporting landscape can only stand to benefit.