Aiming for Excellence: How Dami Sholademi is Redefining Archery in Nigeria and Beyond
By Ada Ezeokoli
Many Nigerians may have never seen an archer in real life. Even fewer would know that a Nigerian athlete has stood on podiums across Africa, carried the national flag with pride, and helped build an entire archery ecosystem from scratch — during a global pandemic.
Meet Dami Sholademi: a multi-sport athlete, martial artist, instructor, and one of the most decorated archers representing Nigeria today. From experimenting with homemade PVC bows in Abuja to competing at international championships and training the next generation, Dami’s story is a powerful reminder that talent exists everywhere — but discipline turns it into mastery.
In this conversation on Coffee With Ada, he shares how archery found him, how he built a sport without institutional support, and why focus, repetition, and community are at the heart of everything he does.
Dami Sholademi shows off his medals from various competitions. He began learning archery during the COVID19 pandemic in Nigeria. Photo Credit: Coffee With Ada
How Archery Started With Boredom — and Became a Calling
Dami didn’t discover archery in a stadium or a training facility — he found it in 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 lockdown, when a friend posted a clip of himself shooting a homemade bow.
Before COVID, Dami hiked almost every weekend in Abuja. But when outdoor movement became limited, that restlessness pushed him toward a new challenge. One message later, he and his friends found themselves in the home of a stranger who had crafted bows out of PVC pipes and arrows from bamboo.
What began as curiosity quickly became a serious commitment.
By 2021, they founded their own archery club in Abuja, bought proper equipment, studied technique on YouTube, and learned through trial, error, and community guidance.
Just a year later, Dami represented Nigeria at the African Archery Championships — the very first time Nigeria ever competed at that level.
And he came home with two silver medals.
Self-Funded Excellence
Unlike many sports systems supported by government funding, Dami and his peers built everything themselves.
“Every amount I’ve put into archery has been my savings, plus support from family and friends.”
No grants. No sponsorships.
The federation provides administrative guidance, but all equipment, travel, training, and competition expenses are self-funded.
Yet despite these limitations, the sport grew because people like Dami believed Nigeria deserved to be seen on the global stage.
The Zen of Archery: Focus, Stillness, Repetition
Archery, Dami says, is a primal sport — one that forces the mind and body to become one.
As a seasoned martial artist, he was drawn to the discipline and mental clarity required to shoot accurately.
“When I stand and shoot, every other thing vanishes. It’s just the target.”
He teaches that every archer must train their mind before their aim:
Keep emotions steady
Move through a mental checklist
Shut out distractions
Breathe with the bow
Live one arrow at a time
This approach, he believes, is what turns hobbyists into champions.
Building Nigeria’s Archery Ecosystem
When Dami and his peers founded their club, only four archery clubs existed in Nigeria.
Today, over 25 private clubs operate across the country — many directly linked to the model they created.
Their competitions have grown from small, informal gatherings to events hosting more than 100 athletes.
For Dami, this is one of his greatest achievements.
“We’ve been able to change the face of archery in Nigeria. We made the entry level low enough for people to come in and enjoy the sport.”
Representing Nigeria on the African Stage
One of Dami’s proudest moments came in Côte d’Ivoire, where he stood on the podium four different times, holding the Nigerian flag as the national anthem played.
“That moment felt good. Importantly, it showed how far we’ve come from building homemade bows during COVID.”
And he’s not stopping.
The Nigerian team is preparing for another African Archery Championship — and Dami is confident:
“We are bringing home medals. At least three.”
The Nigerian team came home with two medals from the Archery Championship.
Dami holds up his silver medal from the African Archery Championships. Photo Credit: Dami Sholademi
Becoming a Mentor: Seeing Olympians in Every Beginner
As an instructor, Dami’s philosophy is simple and profound:
“When someone comes to me to learn, the first thing I think is: that’s a potential Olympian.”
He believes his role is not only to teach technique, but to ensure he never becomes the reason someone fails to fulfill their potential.
He has coached archers who now win medals across West and East Africa — including athletes he trained remotely.
Why Africa Should Invest in Individual Sports
Beyond archery, Dami offers a strong argument for rethinking sports development in Africa:
Football requires nearly 20 athletes to win a single medal.
One archer can win three medals per competition — individually, as a team, and in mixed doubles.
He argues that:
Individual sports have lower barriers to entry
Talent development should start in primary school
Africa must diversify beyond popular sports
Early investment builds world-class athletes
Humble Lessons From Competing in the U.S.
Competing in the United States brought humility and growth.
Back home, as Nigeria’s No. 2 archer, Dami often entered competitions with confidence. In the U.S., he had to start from scratch.
“People were beating me with 40-point margins. I told myself, ‘You know nothing, Jon Snow.’”
Some archers ignored him.
Others gave him tips, modified his equipment, and helped him grow.
Today, he competes in U.S. state and national championships — and he has medals to show for it.
But he still tosses his medals into storage after each win, choosing not to dwell on past success.
Dami demonstrates how to shoot a compound bow. Video: Coffee With Ada
Looking Ahead: One Practice At a Time
When asked what’s next, Dami’s answer was simple:
“The next practice session.
Competition becomes easy when you are disciplined in the practice ground.”
His father, an engineer, gave him the advice he still lives by:
“If everything is going smoothly, you’re going downhill. Expect resistance — then overcome it.”
From makeshift PVC bows to international podiums, Dami Sholademi’s journey is a testament to passion, discipline, and quiet excellence. His story reminds us that greatness can come from the most unexpected places, especially when nurtured with belief, community, and relentless effort.
He embodies what Coffee With Ada stands for: Africans redefining excellence, one story at a time.
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