The summer of 2019 would be remembered as a sports enthusiast’s holiday with tournaments such as the ICC Cricket World Cup, Copa America, FIFA Women’s World Cup and the African Cup of Nations all occurring during the summer months.
Hence, why Pride Magazine Nigeria’s editorial team has chosen to celebrate one of those who through the year’s have brought you quality coverage of such tournaments. People who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure you get the real scoop. A person like Chisom Mbonu-Ezeoke, Africa’s foremost female sports journalists who is our Woman of the Month for July, 2019.
Chisom’s love for sports started as a child, growing up as the last of eight children. She enjoyed watching football games with her older brothers on television and at the stadium. With this interest and enthusiasm, she got involved in athletics during her secondary schools days, running the 100m, 200m and 400m.
Her love and passion for sports led her to becoming the first female licensed football agent in Nigeria, in 2005. This equally propelled her into sports journalism, a platform that has seen her report major sporting events around the world, such as the FIFA World Cup, the Olympics, Africa Cup of Nations, Africa Women Cup of Nations, Commonwealth Games, Winter Olympics, Basketball events, amongst others.
She is currently the face of the Nigerian Professional Football League, for the broadcast rights holders, SuperSport. She serves as a Sports TV Presenter, analyst, reporter and producer. This has seen her traverse the entire country, bringing the game live to a teeming sports audience. She also anchors a weekly magazine show, Naijamade.
For her contribution and doggedness, she received the Nigeria Broadcasters Merit Award, in 2012, as the Sports TV Presenter of the Year (female category).
Chisom currently sits as a member of CAF Women’s Football Committee and represented CAF, in Zurich, at the FIFA-CAF Meeting for Women’s Football Development in Africa. She is also a CAF and FIFA match commissioner.
She has on several occasions been invited to mentor young girls by different organizations, including the US Embassy, Kudirat Abiola Initiative for Democracy (KIND), Lagos State Football Association, amongst others, and was herself, mentored by Fox Sport, in Los Angeles, at the 2017 Global Sports Mentoring Program (GSMP) as a delegate nominated by the US Consulate General, Lagos. She was also picked from her class as the return delegate to mentor the 2018 Class of the GSMP, in Washington DC.
Chisom is a principal partner at Fortem Lens Ltd. and co-founded the Fortem Inspire program – a project that employs sports as a tool to promote education, leadership skills and a healthy lifestyle for young girls in Nigeria. Through this program, she has touched the lives of many young girls and used her experiences in the sports media industry to empower the girl child.
Chisom holds a BA. Hons. in English Language from the University of Abuja
She served as the Vice Chairperson of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter, from 2015 to 2018.
She has also served as the media officer of the Nigeria women’s football team, the Super Falcons.
Chisom is currently the communications director and board member for the Bobsled and Skeleton Federation of Nigeria.
Chisom is currently in Egypt covering the 2019 AFCON tournament on behalf of SuperSport and a brand ambassador of GOtv.
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