In football, individual awards are often the reward for years of sacrifice, perseverance and unwavering belief. For Oluwakemi Adegbuyi, being crowned the 2025/2026 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership Most Valuable Player was not just recognition for an outstanding season, it was confirmation that consistency, hard work and faith always find their reward.
The former FC Robo Queens star, now representing Edo Queens in the CAF Women's Champions League WAFU B Qualifiers, has emerged as one of the brightest talents in Nigerian women's football. Calm, humble and deeply committed to improving every day, Adegbuyi remains focused on the journey ahead rather than the accolades already earned.
In this exclusive HER STORY interview, the league's MVP reflects on her remarkable season, the challenges that shaped her career and the dreams that continue to drive her.
From Surprise to Success
When Oluwakemi's name was announced as the 2025/2026 NWFL Premiership Most Valuable Player, her reaction was one of disbelief.
"I was shocked and had mixed feelings because I never expected it."
Despite enjoying an exceptional campaign, the attacking midfielder never entered the season thinking about individual awards. Instead, her attention remained firmly on helping her team succeed.
Her football journey truly changed the day she joined FC Robo Queens.
Until then, she admits she never realised women's football could offer a pathway to professional success on the global stage.
That discovery transformed both her ambitions and her outlook on life.
The Challenges Behind the Glory
Like many successful athletes, Oluwakemi's path was never straightforward.
One of her greatest tests came during her early days training with senior players.
The intensity was demanding. She worked tirelessly, travelled with the team to league matches and often found herself watching from the sidelines without getting playing time.
Rather than becoming discouraged, those moments strengthened her determination.
Every difficult training session became another opportunity to improve.
Every setback became motivation.
Her coach played the biggest role throughout that journey, constantly pushing her to grow while helping shape the player she has become today.
A Season Built on Teamwork
Although the MVP award bears her name, Oluwakemi insists it belongs to the entire team.
She credits her teammates for creating an environment where everyone challenged each other to improve.
"The support of my teammates pushed me to do so well."
Asked to identify the defining match of her campaign, she smiles before giving a thoughtful answer.
"Every match had its own question marks."
For her, every fixture demanded something different. Every game presented new challenges, and every performance contributed to an unforgettable season.
She also believes success came because the team always played for one purpose, to defend the badge together.
The constant encouragement from coaches and teammates kept everyone focused throughout the campaign.
Handling Success with Humility
Winning the league's highest individual honour naturally brings expectations.
For Oluwakemi, however, the pressure is placed in God's hands.
"I believe God wanted it to happen, but for me it is a reminder to do even better."
Rather than becoming satisfied, the award has challenged her to improve even more.
If one lesson defines her remarkable season, it is simple:
Consistency.
That single word has become the foundation of both her football and her life.
Beyond the Pitch
Away from football, Oluwakemi enjoys a much quieter lifestyle.
She describes herself as someone who loves books and enjoys carrying out research.
Reading and sleeping help her relax after demanding training sessions and competitive matches.
Had football not become her career, she believes she would have become an accountant.
Her personal values remain non-negotiable.
Honesty.
Integrity.
Respect.
Loyalty.
These principles guide every decision she makes and remain at the centre of her character both on and off the pitch.
Believing in Nigerian Women's Football
Oluwakemi is optimistic about the future of women's football in Nigeria.
She believes the game can continue climbing the global rankings with sustained commitment and development.
Her message to young girls dreaming of becoming professional footballers is equally powerful.
"Never keep your dreams small. Pursue them and never give up. Consistency is the key."
It is advice shaped by experience and built on years of persistence.
Eyes on the Future
Despite individual recognition, Oluwakemi's priorities remain centred on her team.
Her immediate objective is helping Edo Queens achieve success by winning trophies, beginning with the CAF Women's Champions League WAFU B Qualifiers.
She also dreams of representing Nigeria at the highest international level and believes, by God's grace, those opportunities will come.
When asked where she sees herself five years from now, her answer reflects complete faith.
"Where God has placed me to be."
For a player who has trusted the process every step of the way, the future is something she leaves confidently in God's hands.
QUICK FIRE
One word that describes your journey?
Consistency and Grace
Favourite footballer?
Thembi Kgatlana and Alyssa Thompson
Favourite club?
Chelsea Women
Toughest opponent you've faced?
Chiamaka Ezekwuigo (Bayelsa Queens)
Biggest football dream?
To become a professional footballer at the highest level.
Favourite pre-match meal?
Plantain and spaghetti.
Favourite stadium?
Remo Stars Stadium.
One teammate everyone should watch out for?
Aliu Rofiat (Robo Queens)
Best advice you've ever received?
"Don't let success get into your head because you haven't started anything yet."
Message to every young girl who dreams of playing football?
"Keep working hard. Stay consistent. Be disciplined. Most importantly, remain prayerful."
HER STORY
For Oluwakemi Adegbuyi, becoming the NWFL Premiership MVP is not the destination, it is only another step in a much bigger journey.
Built on faith, strengthened by discipline and defined by consistency, she represents the new generation of Nigerian footballers determined to leave their mark on the game.
If her story teaches us anything, it is that success rarely arrives overnight. It is earned through sacrifice, patience and the courage to keep believing, even when no one is watching.
And judging by the journey so far, the best chapters of Oluwakemi Adegbuyi's story are still waiting to be written.
A Season Written in Goals
While the 2025/2026 NWFL Premiership MVP award recognised Oluwakemi Adegbuyi's overall influence, her numbers tell the story of a player who consistently delivered for FC Robo Queens throughout the season.
She finished the NWFL Premiership with 11 goals and 5 assists, playing a decisive role in FC Robo Queens' campaign and establishing herself as one of the league's most productive attacking players.
Her outstanding form continued in the Lagos State FA Cup, where she scored 6 goals, finishing as the competition's highest goalscorer while also contributing 2 assists to help drive her team forward.
On the national stage, Adegbuyi once again rose to the occasion, scoring 2 crucial goals against Remo Stars Ladies in Ibadan during the National Federation Cup, further demonstrating her ability to perform in high-pressure matches.
Across all competitions for FC Robo Queens during the 2025/2026 season, Oluwakemi registered an impressive 19 goals and 7 assists, a remarkable return that underlined her importance to the team and cemented her status as one of Nigeria's most exciting talents.
Those statistics were not just numbers, they were the product of consistency, hard work and a relentless desire to help her team succeed, qualities that ultimately earned her the prestigious NWFL Premiership Most Valuable Player award.
Jewoola Olaoosebikan
For JOJ Active Arena
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