Adebodunrin Thomas was a part of the Nigerian group on the 2025 African Fencing Championships held in Lagos.
For {the teenager}, making the nationwide group was a dream come true.
Only a few years after embracing fencing, Thomas has already reaped exceptional rewards.
By way of the game, she secured a scholarship to proceed her training at one of many UK’s prestigious establishments—Wellington School.
At simply 17, Thomas stands as a shining instance of how dedication, ardour, and the correct assist can open doorways to life-changing alternatives.
She admits that fencing has given her not solely self-discipline and confidence but in addition invaluable publicity that continues to form her future in highly effective methods.
A proud member of the Lagos Fencing Membership (LFC), Thomas mirrored on her journey: “It was a tremendous expertise representing Nigeria on the continental match final yr, being my first time in nationwide colors.
I felt a mixture of strain and empowerment. I’m actually grateful to everybody who has helped me, particularly the Lagos Fencing Membership.
They pushed me and helped me safe this scholarship. I’m proud to be working with such skilled coaches and proficient college students.
I hope that my new expertise at Wellington won’t solely make me a greater fencer but in addition push me academically. My aim is to steadiness each so I can go additional.”
Her father, Adebola, expressed immense pleasure in her achievements, describing her journey as one which has showcased her expertise, strengthened her confidence, and positioned her for world alternatives:
“We’re very lucky to safe a major scholarship, which made funding a lot simpler and allowed us to enroll her at Wellington. She has gained publicity via fencing, and we’re pleased with her accomplishments.
Any alternative to reveal our youngsters to different components of the world helps them grow to be well-rounded people. We’ve got observed that fencing has instilled extra self-discipline in her and improved her sportsmanship. It’s a technical sport, and it has helped her mature.”
For Adeyinka Samuel, President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation, Thomas’ story underscores the broader worth of fencing.
He emphasised that the game is extra than simply competitors—it develops focus, resilience, strategic pondering, coordination, and bodily health. Past that, fencing builds self-confidence, teamwork, and opens world alternatives for younger skills.
By way of strategic partnerships with a number of top-tier worldwide establishments in the UK and the US, the Lagos Fencing Membership additionally gives eligible college students scholarship alternatives of as much as 50 p.c—additional demonstrating how the game can rework lives each on and off the piste.
