Skateboarding Builds Community and Careers in Nigeria

Samuel “Kaizer/Ziggy” Zakari discovered skateboarding in 2010, when few Nigerians knew what the sport was. Practicing alone at night, he eventually found a community of musicians, dancers, and creatives who saw skating as therapy and self-expression. Today, he runs Super Glider House and mentors young skaters at WAF Park, Nigeria’s first public concrete skatepark. Through Super Glider House, he has helped build a skating culture that later received official recognition through the formation of Team Nigeria Skateboarding. Zakari’s protégé Joseph Omojuwa won gold at a youth championship in Benin and later appeared in an Adidas campaign. Yet limited facilities, travel costs, and administrative hurdles still restrict international opportunities. Nevertheless, advocates say skateboarding offers underserved youth mentorship, discipline, and a rare creative outlet, with some organizations working to expand access to global competitions, including the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympics.