Ganiyat Adeduntan has been appointed head coach of the George Washington Revolutionaries Women’s Basketball team, becoming the first Nigerian to hold such a position at a US university.
The announcement was made on Monday in a statement by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols at the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), and shared on the commission’s official X page.
NiDCOM hailed Adeduntan’s appointment as a significant milestone for Nigeria and its diaspora. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, lauded her for enhancing Nigeria’s global sports reputation.
“We are extremely proud of Coach Ganiyat Adeduntan for this historic achievement. Her leadership, resilience, and dedication to basketball set a new benchmark for Nigerian excellence worldwide,” Dabiri-Erewa stated.
Before this role, Adeduntan led Colgate University to back-to-back 20-win seasons and a Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) appearance. Her return to George Washington University, where she previously worked as an assistant coach, is expected to strengthen the team’s program.
“She exemplifies hard work and determination, serving as an inspiration to young Nigerian women striving to break barriers in sports and beyond,” Dabiri-Erewa added.
Originally from Ibadan, Adeduntan holds a PhD in Nursing and is the daughter of Prince (Dr) Azeez Adeduntan, a Harvard-trained cardiovascular surgeon and former Oyo State Commissioner for Health.
NiDCOM reaffirmed its support for her journey, expressing confidence in her ability to reach even greater heights in her new role.
