After making history as the first African to win a medal in the badminton event at the Paralympic Games, Nigeria’s Mariam Eniola Bolaji is now setting her sights on global domination in the Women’s SL3 category.
Bolaji, who clinched a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, believes she has what it takes to rival the best in the world. Over the past two years, she has established herself as the African champion and climbed to the world No. 3 spot in her division.
Bolaji dedicated her bronze medal to her late coach, Rafiu Oyebanji. “I am not happy that my coach was not alive to witness this great development, but on the other hand, I am happy to have won a medal in his honor,” she said.
Reflecting on her upbringing, Bolaji shared, “I was raised by my grandmother, Mrs. Bolaji Bolaji, and we have both worked hard to achieve this great feat. I cannot forget her efforts, nor the man who discovered my potential, Mr. Bayo Ahmed. He saw me at a bank in Ilorin and encouraged me to pursue sports. I started with table tennis and athletics but later chose badminton. My late coach took it upon himself to ensure I became what I am today. Sadly, he was not alive to be part of my success story, but I will never forget him. I am what I am today without my parents, as I lost them at a very young age.”
Bolaji is also determined to become the world’s number one badminton player in her class. “I am focused on achieving this by putting in more effort. With the support of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), I am more determined than ever to actualize this dream.”
Returning to school is another priority for Bolaji. “Without education, you are nobody. Part of my ambition is to further my education. I want to study sports management at the university and I am fully ready to pursue my career. This will boost my image and help me achieve a lot in life,” she added.