The Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria (GFN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Turkish Gymnastics Federation to train Nigerian coaches and judges, provide gymnastics equipment and strengthen the country’s technical capacity ahead of major international competitions, including the 2027 African Games and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. GFN President Prince Kelvin Erhunwunse announced the agreement on Friday, October 9, 2026, following the World Congress in Bangkok, Thailand.
Key Highlights
- The Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria has signed an MoU with the Turkish Gymnastics Federation.
- The partnership will focus on training Nigerian gymnastics coaches and judges across different disciplines.
- Turkey has reportedly offered Nigeria access to training opportunities ahead of the 2027 African Games and 2028 Olympics.
- The agreement includes plans to provide gymnastics equipment and develop a training centre.
- China, Japan and Azerbaijan have also reportedly agreed to host Nigerian junior and senior gymnasts for training camps.
- The proposed international camps could last up to six months, with host countries providing accommodation and feeding.
- The initiatives aim to improve athletes’ technical skills and international competition experience.
GFN, Turkey Partnership Targets Gymnastics Development in Nigeria
GFN President Prince Kelvin Erhunwunse said the agreement with Turkey was designed to address technical development needs in Nigerian gymnastics and create more opportunities for coaches, judges and athletes.
Erhunwunse, who also serves as Vice President of UAG Zone 2, explained that the partnership would cover equipment support, specialised training and discussions on establishing a training centre that could serve Nigeria and other African countries.
“I was in Istanbul to sign a deal with the Turkish Gymnastics Federation. The deal is all about helping Nigeria with equipment. We also discussed building a centre where some African countries can come and camp,” he said.
According to the GFN president, a major component of the agreement is the training of coaches across gymnastics disciplines, alongside judges, to improve technical standards and expertise in the country.
“The main deal was the provision to train our coaches in all disciplines and a judge along with them. This will help us improve the technical standard of gymnastics in Nigeria,” Erhunwunse added.
Nigeria to Prepare Gymnasts in Turkey for 2027 African Games, 2028 Olympics
Erhunwunse also disclosed that Turkey had granted Nigeria permission to prepare its athletes in the country ahead of the 2027 African Games in Egypt and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
He said the arrangement would allow Nigerian gymnasts to train in an environment where they could learn from and compete alongside established athletes.
“Turkey has granted us permission to prepare our athletes for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and the 2027 African Games in Egypt, where they will have the opportunity to train and compete with champions,” he said.
The proposed training opportunities are expected to support Nigeria’s preparations for the two competitions by exposing athletes to international facilities, coaching methods and higher levels of competition.
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China, Japan, Azerbaijan to Host Nigerian Gymnastics Training Camps
Beyond the Turkish agreement, the GFN president said the World Congress in Bangkok had also provided an opportunity to establish arrangements with China, Japan and Azerbaijan for training camps involving Nigerian junior and senior gymnasts.
According to Erhunwunse, the proposed camps could last up to six months, giving athletes extended exposure to international training systems.
He said the host countries would provide accommodation and feeding, while Nigeria would be responsible for logistics funding and related expenses.
“In Thailand during the World Congress, I was able to establish full agreements with China, Japan and Azerbaijan to grant us the opportunity to bring our junior and senior athletes for camping for six months,” he said.
“What we need to do is provide logistics funds for the athletes, while they will take care of the hotel accommodation and feeding. This is a big opportunity for us to expose our athletes to high-level training and competition,” he added.
The proposed arrangements could provide Nigerian gymnasts with access to specialised facilities and coaching expertise that may help improve their performance at continental and global events.
GFN Seeks to Improve Nigeria’s International Gymnastics Competitiveness
The agreements with Turkey, China, Japan and Azerbaijan represent a broader effort by the federation to strengthen Nigeria’s gymnastics development programme.
Training coaches and judges could help improve technical knowledge, athlete preparation and the application of international standards across different gymnastics disciplines.
Meanwhile, overseas training camps could give junior and senior athletes greater exposure to experienced competitors and different coaching approaches.
However, the impact of the initiatives will depend on implementation, funding for logistics and athlete participation, as well as the successful establishment of the proposed training arrangements.
With the 2027 African Games and the 2028 Olympics approaching, the GFN is seeking to use international partnerships to improve Nigeria’s preparation and competitiveness in gymnastics.
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