Nigerian Skateboarder Samuel “Kaizer/Ziggy” Zakari Builds Skateboarding Community In Lagos

Nigerian Skateboarder Samuel “Kaizer/Ziggy” Zakari Builds Skateboarding Community in Lagos When Nigerian skateboarder Samuel “Kaizer/Ziggy” Zakari was asked who else he saw skateboarding while growing up, he chuckled. “That’s a funny question because nobody even knew what a skateboard was,” he said. Today, Zakari, 31, is helping transform skateboarding from an unfamiliar pastime into a growing sport and community for young people in Lagos. Zakari discovered skateboarding as a teenager after becoming fascinated by the sport through Tony Hawk video games. In 2010, at the age of 17, he bought his first skateboard despite having never watched anyone skateboard in real life. He taught himself by watching YouTube videos and practising at night near his home, often trying to avoid waking his father with the sound of the skateboard wheels. In the early days, finding suitable places to skate in Lagos was difficult. Zakari and other skaters searched for smooth concrete surfaces in parking lots, basketball courts and around abandoned areas. They were sometimes chased away by security guards, while members of the public who did not understand the sport would question why they were skateboarding instead of working. “We didn’t even see it as a sport. For us, it was a kind of therapy, although we didn’t realize that at the time,” Zakari said. Over time, skateboarding began attracting musicians, street dancers and other young creatives, helping a scattered group of enthusiasts develop into a wider community. A major turning point came in 2024 when WAF Park, Nigeria’s first public concrete skatepark, opened in Lagos. The facility gave local skaters a permanent place to train and helped strengthen the city’s skateboarding culture. Zakari now runs Super Glider House, a school and agency that supports young skaters. He also holds free group training sessions for children at WAF Park. Among the young skaters he mentors is 16-year-old Joseph Omodjueva, known as “Skywalker.” Zakari initially gave him access to his own skateboard after discovering that the teenager was practising barefoot. Omodjueva later received a skateboard, wheels and shoes through donations and went on to win gold at a youth skateboarding championship in neighbouring Benin in January 2026. His growing profile also led to an appearance in a campaign involving Nigerian skate brand waf. and Adidas. Nigeria has since established an official national skateboarding team, with the Skate Federation of Nigeria working to help athletes compete internationally and pursue professional opportunities. However, Nigerian skaters still face challenges, including limited facilities, expensive international travel and difficulties accessing qualifying competitions. For Zakari, skateboarding is about more than tricks and competitions. He believes the sport can provide young Nigerians with a safe environment for self-expression, discipline, friendship and personal development.What began with one teenager quietly skating through the streets of Lagos has grown into a community helping introduce a new generation of Nigerians to a sport that, not long ago, few people in the country even knew existed.