Rena Wakama is a Nigerian professional basketball coach and a former player. She has been the head coach of the Nigeria Senior Women’s Basketball Team since 2023.
Rena is also an assistant coach at Tulane University. When she became the coach of D’Tigress (Nigerian Women’s Team), she was the first Nigerian National Female Basketball Team coach to win the competition since it started in 1966.
Now, let’s dive into 5 cool facts about Rena Wakama, the history-making coach of the Nigeria Senior Women’s Basketball Team!
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1. Rena Wakama Was Born In the United States To Nigerian Parents
Rena was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States in 1992. She is 32 years of age and she blows out her birthday candles on the 11th of April every year.
Wakama was born to Nigerian parents. Her father, Johnson Wakama, and her mother, Rosana Oba are natives of Okrika, Rivers State, Nigeria. Her father passed away in February 2023.
Rena lost her father, Johnson in February 2023 (Source: Rena’s Instagram)
Rena shares a sibling bond with her two sisters, Yonne Wakama and Mina Wakama.
2. Rena Led Nigerian Female Basketball National Team To Landmark Victory On Paris Olympics 2024
Wakama is over the moon as she guided the Nigeria Senior Women’s Basketball Team to their historic victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The D’Tigress defeated Australia in their first match by a score of 75-62 on 29 July 2024.
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In their second game, the Nigerian team lost to France by a score of 75-54 on 1 August 2024. The D’Tigress came back strong in their third match as they defeated Canada by a score of 79-70 on 4 August 2024.
3. Rena Was Inspired By Her Cousin Onimise Aiyede Who Passed Away in 2020
Rena was inspired by her cousin, Onimise Aiyede to play basketball. Sadly, he passed away on 23 October 2020 at the age of 32.
Rena’s brother Onimise, who died in 2020, was the one to inspire her to play basketball (Source: Rena’s Instagram)
Wakama shared a heartwarming message on her Instagram on 27 October 2020 following the death of Aiyede. She wrote,
You name it …we did it ..staying up all night playing video games, racing down the street head first on a skateboard, teaching me how to ride a bike, holding my hand on our walk to the bus stop on my first day of kindergarten , teaching me how to drive ,installing my stereo system in my first car, kicking my behind in basketball.. the list goes on and on. Onimisi I wanted to be just like you growing up and for the longest my mom had to remind me I was a girl 😂😂. But I didn’t care ..I saw a smart , funny, loving , hardworking, peaceful, compassionate and fierce competitor that I wanted to be just like and still do till this day. You left your footprint on my life and I will be forever grateful for the memories we shared. Thank you for ALWAYS BEING there for me and letting me harass you as your little sister. I know you’ll be with me in spirit every single day. Continue to watch over us in heaven… See you later. Rest In Peace. 😘👼❤️
Onimise was born on 26 July 1988 to his parents, Ojo Aiyede and Miebaka Oba Aiyede.
4. Rena Wakama Is A Former Basketball Player
Previously, Rena was a basketball player herself. She played for the Western Carolina Catamounts for four years while attending Western Carolina University.
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Wakama then joined the Nigeria Women’s National Basketball Team where she played at the 2015 Women’s Afrobasket tournament in Cameroon. She also represented her country at the FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women.
Rena then served as the director of women’s basketball operations at Manhattan College for two years. She then became the assistant coach in her third year.
5. Rena Has Both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees
Wakama attended Western Carolina University in 2010, where she majored in Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy. She completed her Bachelor of Applied Science degree from there in 2014.
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At WSU, Rena was part of the National Honors Society, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and the North Carolina Recreational Therapy Association. She went on to join Manhattan College for her master’s degree in 2017.
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Eventually, Rena obtained a Master of Business Administration degree at Manhattan in May 2019.
