Ganiyat Adeduntan has become the first Nigerian appointed as head coach of a women’s basketball team in a US university.

She was named the new head coach of the George Washington Revolutionaries Women’s Basketball team.

The announcement was made on Monday in a statement signed by Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, at the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and shared via its official X page.

According to the statement, the commission described her appointment as a major win for Nigeria and the diaspora.

Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, praised Adeduntan for making Nigeria proud on the global stage.

“We are immensely proud of Coach Ganiyat Adeduntan for this groundbreaking accomplishment. Her leadership, resilience, and passion for basketball have set a new standard for Nigerian excellence on the global stage,” Dabiri-Erewa said.

Adeduntan previously led Colgate University to back-to-back 20-win seasons and a WNIT appearance. Her new role marks a return to George Washington University, where she once served as assistant coach.

“She embodies the spirit of hard work and determination, and her success is an inspiration to young Nigerian women aspiring to break barriers in sports and beyond,” Dabiri-Erewa added.

“We at NiDCOM celebrate her and look forward to even greater achievements under her leadership.”

Adeduntan, who is from Ibadan, holds a PhD in Nursing.

She is the daughter of Prince (Dr) Azeez Adeduntan, a Harvard-trained cardiovascular surgeon and former Oyo State Commissioner for Health.