Judo Queen: Enku Ekuta Wins Fourth National Sports Festival Gold
Enku Ekuta has once again proven why she is Nigeria’s top female judoka, winning gold in the women’s -63kg category at the 2024 Gateway Games in Abeokuta. Her victory not only marked her fourth straight gold medal at the National Sports Festival but also brought emotional closure to a long-standing family memory.
Competing at the Ilisan Town Hall, Ekuta defeated Ondo State’s Kafayat Azeez in the final to secure the gold for Akwa Ibom State. It was a special win for Enku, as the venue brought back difficult memories for her family.
“At the last Ogun Festival in 2006, my mother was robbed of her gold medal,” Enku told Prime Sports Radio Enugu and Athletic NG. “So for me to come back here and win—it means so much more.”
The 26-year-old judoka began her National Sports Festival journey in 2018 and has since become a dominant force in the sport. Her full name, Enku Ewa Ekuta, means “God will open the way of success,” and she is living proof of that promise.
Enku’s judo roots run deep. Her mother, Catherine Ekuta, competed at the Athens 2004 Olympics and remains a respected figure in Nigerian sport. Her father, Ewa Ekuta, is a former NUGA champion, international judo referee, and coach, who has guided her every step of the way.
A photo from the 1998 Imo Sports Festival shows baby Enku with both parents, already immersed in the world of judo.
Though the Gateway Games were delayed, Enku and her team stayed focused. “When the Games got pushed back, our coach had to rework the plan. We didn’t stop preparing,” she said.
Now, her focus shifts to the international stage. “Next is the African Championships, the African Open, and the IJF World Tour,” she said. “By God’s grace, we’ll be ready.”
In 2019, she made her international debut and has since earned medals at top African competitions, including gold in Dakar where she beat Cameroon’s Hélène Dombeu.
Her road to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics was cut short due to administrative issues, despite qualifying. She would have been the first Nigerian female judoka to compete at the Games in 17 years — the last being her mother.
With her recent win in Ogun and her eyes fixed on Paris 2028, Enku Ekuta’s story is not just about medals. It’s about a daughter finishing what her mother started and writing a legacy of her own.
