Favour Chukwuka Ofili: Profile of Nigeria’s sprinting star

Favour Chukwuka Ofili is a Nigerian sprint sensation whose name has become synonymous with athletic excellence.

Known affectionately as “Star Girl,” Ofili has carved out a name for herself as a record-breaking track and field athlete, particularly in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay events.

Early beginnings

Born on December 31, 2002, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and raised in Delta State, Ofili has emerged as one of Africa’s brightest sprinting talents.

Favour’s journey into athletics began in 2014 while she was still a high school student in Delta State.

Her coach, Anne Otutu, recognized her potential early on. “Coach Anne Otutu saw me and said I’ll be good,” Ofili once recalled.

Encouraged by those words, she began training seriously, a decision that would launch her into international stardom.

She later trained in Port Harcourt with coach George Obiano before moving to the United States for higher education and competitive opportunities.

Rising through the ranks

Ofili’s first major breakthrough came in 2019. At the African U-18 and U-20 Championships, she dominated both the 200m and 400m, claiming gold in both.

At just 16 years old, she was already representing Nigeria at the World Relays in Japan and the African Games in Morocco.

There, she won silver in the 400m and anchored Nigeria’s gold-winning 4x400m relay team.

NCAA glory

After earning a scholarship to Louisiana State University (LSU) in 2020, Ofili’s career reached new heights.

Under the guidance of renowned sprint coach Dennis Shaver, she continued to develop her talent.

In February 2021, she set a new African indoor record in the 200m with a time of 22.75 seconds.

The year 2022 was pivotal. Ofili broke the Nigerian and African 200m record, running an astonishing 21.96 seconds at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational in Gainesville, Florida.

This made her the first Nigerian woman and only the second African woman ever, to break the 22-second barrier.

The record also made her the fastest collegiate female sprinter in the event at that time.

In 2023, she set another African indoor record in the 200m at the Tyson Invitational with a time of 22.36 seconds, making her the second-fastest indoor 200m runner in collegiate history.

That same year, she graduated from LSU with a degree in Sport and Fitness Administration/Management and turned professional by signing with Adidas.

In 2025, she etched her name into the annals of track and field history with a breathtaking performance at the 2025 Adidas Atlanta City Games held on Saturday at Piedmont Park, Atlanta.

International competitions

Despite her brilliance, Ofili faced setbacks. In 2021, she missed the Tokyo Olympics due to administrative oversights by the Nigerian Athletics Federation.

However, she rebounded strongly at the World U20 Championships in Nairobi, winning a bronze in the 200m and two more medals in relay events.

In 2022, she clinched a silver medal in the 200m at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, adding to her growing list of accolades.

Ofili made her long-awaited Olympic debut at the 2024 Paris Games. She made it to the final of the women’s 200m event and finished sixth with a time of 22.24 seconds.

She also ran in the 4x100m relay, where Nigeria posted a season-best of 42.70 seconds but did not progress past the heats.

Unfortunately, due to another administrative blunder by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Ofili was denied a chance to compete in the 100m event as her name was not submitted on time.

Following an investigation, it was recommended that she be compensated ₦8 million for the “disappointment and depression” caused by the oversight.

Awards

Favour Ofili has received numerous accolades, including the Commissioner’s Trophy at the SEC Outdoor Championships.