Throughout history, Nigerian female athletes have consistently showcased excellence and resilience in their performances. The 2025 season was no different, as these exceptional women once again rose to the occasion to secure their places in our Top 10 list. Here are Nos.10 – 6 on our list.
10. Patience Okon George
The veteran who has spanned 13 seasons on the senior scene, representing the country across various international competitions, had quite a solid season. The three-time Olympian opened her season at the MTN CHAMPS Continental Relays in Lagos where she won the women’s 400m in a Season’s Best (SB) of 52.67s, then went on to anchor the mixed 4x400m in 3:21.63.
Representing Rivers State, Okon George broke the Festival Record of 51.70s at the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta – a record formerly held by Imaobong Nse Uko and set in 2021 – to win the 400m title in a huge SB of 51.62s, which doubled as her fastest time in the full lap event since 2018.
At the Nigerian National Championships, she ran the fastest time overall in the semis, clocking a 51.92s but was disqualified in the final after an unfortunate false start. The multiple time national Champion ended her season with a Silver medal in the women’s 400m with a time of 52.09s at the CAA Region II Meet held in Ghana.
9. Ella Onojuvwevwo
Onojuvwevwo made quite a mark for herself in the NCAA circuit in 2025. In her second race of the indoor season, the LSU junior improved on her indoor 400m PB of 52.47s from the previous season to a 51.06s, which made her the 3rd fastest Nigerian over the distance indoors. It was the fastest recorded by a Nigerian quarter-miler since Regina George’s 51.06 in 2013. She capped her indoor season with a 4th place finish in the women’s 400m at the NCAA Championships with a time of 51.61s.
During the outdoor season, Onojuvwevwo went sub-51s thrice, clocking 50.99s at the Eastern Regionals, which punched her ticket to the NCAA Championships, and 50.57s in the final of the NCAA Championships where she placed 4th. Her fastest time this season, which doubled as a Personal Best (PB) of 50.31s, came in the semifinals of the NCAA Championships.
That time was the fastest recorded by a Nigerian since Falilat Ogunkoya in 2000, ranking her 5th on the Nigerian all-time list. Onojuvwevwo ended the season as the third fastest African woman over the distance in 2025.
8. Tima Godbless
After having to compete in only two indoor races last year due to injury, Tima Godbless was determined to prove a point this season, and she eventually did. In her first 60m race of the season at the LSU Purple Tigers Invitational, she broke her PB by over five-tenths of a second, clocking a decent 7.22s to better her previous time of 7.77s. Godbless went on to be one of the front-runners for the NCAA 60m title after she blasted a PB of 7.08s (7.14s in the heats) at the Tyson Invitational, which leapfrogged her standings on the Nigerian all-time list to 4th. She also placed 4th in the 60m final at the SEC Championships.
Unfortunately, at the NCAA Indoor Championships, she got disqualified for a false start. The LSU sophomore overcame the mishap, using it as fuel for the outdoor season. At the Tom Jones Invitational, she ran a PB of 22.55s to win the 200m, and placed 2nd in the 100m in 11.14s. Godbless then improved her placement from last season’s SEC where she came 5th, to rank 2nd in 11.06s. Two weeks later, she became the 8th Nigerian female sprinter to join the prestigious sub-11 club after clocking a sizzling 10.91s, making her the 5th fastest Nigerian of all time, in the prelims of the NCAA East Regionals, which punched her ticket to the NCAA Championships.
She also qualified in the 200m and 4x100m, replicating her performance from last season where she qualified for all three events and became the first freshman to earn First team All-American honours in all three events since Sha’Carri Richardson in 2019. At her 2nd NCAA Championships appearance, she won a Bronze medal in the 100m with a time of 11.19 (10.91w in the semis), placed 10th in the 200m (22.59s), and 6th in the 4x100m (43.32s) to close out her season.
7. Prestina Ochonogor
The long jumper whose breakout season last year earned her an NCAA scholarship to Tarleton State University, continued her fine performance at the NCAA circuit. In her first competition donning the purple and white colours for her institute, and also her first ever indoor career competition, she broke sand in an SB of 6.64m, smashing the School Record (SR) at the WAC Indoor Championships. The distance she covered made her eligible for the NCAA Indoor Championships, where she eventually came 8th.
The African Games Bronze medallist bettered her SR at the WAC Outdoor Championships where she leaped to a mark of 6.67m. She placed 2nd in the West Regionals in 6.66m, qualifying her for her first NCAA Outdoor Championships. She once again placed 8th in 6.41m and was a part of her school’s quartet that placed 15th overall in the 4x100m in 43.74s.
A month later, Ochonogor represented Nigeria at the African U18/U20 Athletics Championships in Abeokuta and won the title with a jump of 6.71m, smashing Ese Brume’s Championship Record (CR) of 6.33m set in Addis Ababa in 2015. She retained her national crown with a 6.52m leap at the Nigerian Championships and went on to record an SB of 6.76m to win the CAA Region II meet in Ghana. The one-time Olympian then made her World Championships debut, finishing with a best jump of 6.07m to place 16th in her group and 33rd overall in Tokyo.
6. Ese Brume
The season may not have gone as planned for the multiple-time international medallist who was involved in a car crash that almost hindered her season totally. However, the ever-consistent Brume still put up a strong fight, indicating her true passion and commitment to the sport. The African Record holder began her season campaign with a 3rd place finish and an SB of 6.34m at the Drake Relays. She followed up with a 4th place finish at the Adidas City Games, but with a more superior SB of 6.70m.
The four-time African Champion then made appearances at the USATF throws and City Carnival, jumping 6.30m and 6.47m respectively. A month later, Brume produced a clutch performance, launching herself to a new SB and Nigerian Lead of 6.79m to rank 2nd at the MVA HP and Para Invite. At the second leg of the same meet two weeks later, she leaped to a solid 6.74m.
Brume’s world ranking was enough to earn her a place at the World Championships in Tokyo, which happened to be her fifth consecutive appearance at the competition. Having battled with her fitness all season, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Bronze medallist was unable to make the final for the first time since her maiden outing in London 2017, eventually placing 10th in her group and 19th overall with a best distance of 6.46m. Brume’s 6.79m recorded in July made her the farthest African in the event in the 2025 season.
