Full Name: Chioma Ajunwa-Opara
State of Origin: Ahiazu-Mbaise, Imo.
Ethnicity: Igbo.
Date of Birth: 25 December 1970
Nationality: Nigerian
Marriage status: Married.
Spouse(s):
Parents: Mr and Mrs Opara
Residence: Lagos, Nigeria
Language: English and Igbo
Religion: Christian
Occupation: Former Athlete, Police Officer [DPO]
Position(S): Police Officer [DPO]
Website: www.chiomaajunwafoundation.org
Facebook: Chioma Ajunwa-Oparah
INTRODUCTION
Chioma Ajunwa also known as Chioma Ajunwa-Opara (Ahiazu-Mbaise) was born on 25 December 1970 in Umuchukwu in the Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra state but she is from Imo.
She is the only girl and last born of nine children in her family.
Chioma Ajunwa initially played football for the Nigerian women's team but then made a transition into athletics. Ajunwa performed notably as a track and field athlete at the African Games and African Championships between 1989 and 1991, before being banned from the sport for four years.
Chioma Ajunwa was a member of The Falcons during the Women's World Cup in 1991 and she is the first African woman to win an Olympic gold medal in a field event.
Following the completion of her drug-related ban from competition for four years after failing a drug test in 1992, despite Ajunwa maintaining her innocence.
On October 1, 2010, Nigeria celebrated with fanfare its 50th Independence anniversary. As part of that celebration, on Thursday September 30, 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan conferred special Golden Jubilee Independence Awards on 50 distinguished Nigerians and friends of Nigeria including Chioma Ajunwa for their various roles and contributions to the development of the country. Being selected from among millions of other achievers and listed among the founding fathers of Nigerian nation, most of whom Chioma read about in History class made Chioma to say “It is the Lord’s doing. I am grateful to God”. This award no doubt will further intensify the patriotic fire that burns in her heart for Nigeria and Nigerians.
On Friday April 30, 2010 Chioma Ajunwa delivered a powerful paper on “War against the use of illicit Drugs in Sports” at an Interactive Session organized by Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) for Athletes as part of 3rd Leg of AFN Golden League at Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex, Yaba, Lagos. The abridged version of this paper titled “Fighting the Root Causes of Doping in Athletics” is available on the cyberspace. In the second half of the year 2010, Chioma stepped up her anti-doping activities by starting an integrated campaign aptly tagged ‘Compete Fair & Clean’. This initiative which she has so far personally financed involves communicating anti-doping messages directly to budding athletes and their coaches at athletic events. Awareness and Red-flag workshops and seminars are being organized with kind cooperation of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN). She also enjoys the support and solidarity of former national athletes. At athletic meets, banners are placed at stadiums and informative publications as well as t-shirts with punchy anti-doping messages are given to athletes and coaches. The response of the target audience has been massive.
She is currently the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Meran police station in Lagos.
EDUCATION
Ajunwa went to Primary school and further to secondary school, She later gained admission into university but was unable to register due to her mother's inability to pay the fees. She later completed her education.
SPORT CAREER
Talking about her career Ajunwa said she did not regret the decision to leave football because she has made her mark in athletics. She said she could have continued with football but there was a particular coach... He knew then that she was the best player in the team but he decided to keep her on the bench throughout their matches so she left the team's camp.
Chioma Ajunwa performed notably as a track and field athlete at the African Games and African Championships between 1989 and 1991,
Chioma Ajunwa went on to become the first African woman, as well as the first Nigerian, to win an Olympic gold medal in a track and field event – Ajunwa emerged victorious in the women’s long jump event at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, with a jump of 7.12m (for her first attempt) during the final. The Nigerian athlete’s profession whilst completing many of the aforementioned achievements was that of an officer with the Nigerian Police Force.
Following her winning of Olympic gold medal at 1996 Summer Olympic Games at Atlanta, United States, Chioma Ajunwa was given a national award – Member of the Order of Niger (MON)- by the then Head of State of Nigeria Sani Abacha.
LOVE, MARRIAGE AND CHILDREN
Chioma said and I quote" I was married for many years and when the child was not forthcoming, I was worried all the time, because I know that if you don’t have a child, your marriage will not be that strong. “In Igboland a woman without child is like an outcast" Her husband as a pastor always consoling me, telling her to leave everything to God. God later blessed her with three children they are two boys and a girl; Joshua, Caleb and Rose.’
Now she is happily married and blessed with children
THE DAYS OF YOUTH:
She was born into "a very poor home" according to her; Ajunwa was the last of nine children, with six brothers and two sisters.
At age eighteen, Ajunwa who had been a keen athletics participant during her school years, gained admission into university but was unable to register due to her mother's inability to pay the fees since her father died while she was still young, and he left the nine children for his wife and his family.
INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT CHIOMA AJUNWA-OPARA
Chioma Ajunwa initially played football for the Nigerian women's team
She specialised in 100m, 200m and long jump, eventually competing at the African Championships in 1989 and the All Africa Games in 1991 where she won gold medals in the long jump.
When her mother was unable to pay her fees to the university,She decided to become a motor mechanic, but abandoned the idea later.
Now she is a Police Officer [DPO]
AWARDS, HONOURS, LAURELS AND RECOGNITIONS
- Olympic Gold Medalist, Member of the Order of Niger [MON] Award, Nigeria Golden Jubilee Independence Awards
- Community Chieftaincy Title
- Imo State awarded her a chieftaincy title.
- Chairperson of the Women's Development Committee of Imo State Football Association.2011
- Member of Committee on the Revival of the Nigeria Academicals Sports Competitions.2011
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