Polo has been a popular sport in Nigeria
for more than a decade. Uneku Atawodi has taken her passion for the game
of kings and proven she is worthy of being called the queen of polo.
One of Uneku's greatest achievement
is becoming one of the only female African polo players who compete
internationally. When asked about being involved in a mostly male
dominated sport, she says it does not discourage her but rather forces
her to focus on her strengths.
"Once you prove yourself on the field, polo allows you the unique luxury of playing side by side with your male counterparts. The game is one of strategy and horsemanship. What is important is your skill on the field, not your sex.
"Of course men are naturally stronger, and so it is important to always be two steps ahead strategically, constantly focusing on being in the right position, and making the smartest play helps to put you one step ahead while saving horse power."
Her true love has always been horses; an animal she thinks can empower and inspire everyone who learns to work with them.
"Horses have an amazing ability to empower anyone who gets on them. You get the opportunity to build a relationship with one of God's creatures with no conversation.”
Uneku's secret to being a good rider is taking your ego out of the equation.
"To be a good rider, you have to truly humble yourself. The horse does not know if you are the president, the queen or a pauper.
"It will give you the respect you give to it. That quality needed to be a good equestrian also plays a big role in personal and business relationships; building confidence, humility and patience.
Uneku, also known as Neku, says getting involved in polo was not a choice - it was her destiny.
"I believe your destiny finds you. Participating in polo was never a decision; it was and remains what I am most passionate about.
"Polo allows me to have a great relationship with my true love, horses, while being a beautiful team sport combining thrills, sportsmanship and great horsemanship."
Though polo, often referred to as the sport of kings, may seem like a sport reserved for the elite, Uneku thinks other women should not be afraid to give it a try.
"I always tell people that regardless of the elitist image the sport comes with, I find polo players to be the most welcoming group of people.
"Go to your nearest polo club and ask about taking a few lessons, many clubs around the world will embrace you! And if you are having a hard time, say Neku sent you."
The passionate equestrian's talents are not limited to playing polo. She has a business degree which led to her opening a boutique hotel in Abuja. She is also a philanthropist and a Special Duties Officer at the Ministry in Abuja.
She says that though all these roles are different, they all revolve around polo, making it easy for her to juggle her different roles.
"It is easier when all the hats you wear connect to each other. Once one figures out that everything I do has a connection to polo, it is clear where my passion comes from.
"My hotel Bamboo House, for example, is bred from my travels around the world and staying in so many different hotels and resorts. I am in love with nature and wanted to bring to Abuja a spot that mixes all my different loves.
"Polo sticks are made of bamboo, thus the name, and bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants in the world. That is the business growth model we aim to accomplish.
In terms of how sport influences her business, she believes the same qualities that define a good sportsman are also useful in the business world.
"Sports analogies and what is requires to be successful on the field easily transcend to requirements in business. Know your opponent, mark your man, and keep your eyes on the ball."
Neku has had to endure her fair share of sacrifices on her path to becoming a great polo player. Sacrifices she says were worth it in the end.
"There have been sacrifices that hurt when I was younger, but I now greatly appreciate them. When my friends were recovering from heavy nights out, I would be at the polo club taking care of the horses.
"I traded the girly wants of bags and nice shoes for saddles and boots, and I would never have it any other way. My mother says all the time: 'Neku's horses dress and eat better than her!'"
Her charity, Ride to Shine, not only introduces children to polo at their centre, but has also set up a trust fund which she hopes will one day be big enough to help them pay for an education.
"Ride to Shine has set up a trust fund for the kids which goes public once they start to play in children's tournaments being organised at our centre. All funds raised through sponsorship and ticket sales go to the fund.
"We believe in equipping our children with skills for life, as opposed to handing them fish. We envision the fund growing large enough that we are able to assist exceptional children from all backgrounds with their education once they apply."
Neku has also tapped into the international network she has built over the years to benefit the charity's young polo players.
"We aim to use the world wide polo network to offer international experiences for our children, giving them a globalised view on life, and aiming to create tomorrow's visionary leaders.
"I am here because someone believed in me when the odds were against me. Because a child is born into a negative situation is no reason for it to determine their future.
"Ride to Shine aims to be that one person that believes in a child's vision for their future and helps them to achieve it."
"Once you prove yourself on the field, polo allows you the unique luxury of playing side by side with your male counterparts. The game is one of strategy and horsemanship. What is important is your skill on the field, not your sex.
"Of course men are naturally stronger, and so it is important to always be two steps ahead strategically, constantly focusing on being in the right position, and making the smartest play helps to put you one step ahead while saving horse power."
Her true love has always been horses; an animal she thinks can empower and inspire everyone who learns to work with them.
"Horses have an amazing ability to empower anyone who gets on them. You get the opportunity to build a relationship with one of God's creatures with no conversation.”
Uneku's secret to being a good rider is taking your ego out of the equation.
"To be a good rider, you have to truly humble yourself. The horse does not know if you are the president, the queen or a pauper.
"It will give you the respect you give to it. That quality needed to be a good equestrian also plays a big role in personal and business relationships; building confidence, humility and patience.
Uneku, also known as Neku, says getting involved in polo was not a choice - it was her destiny.
"I believe your destiny finds you. Participating in polo was never a decision; it was and remains what I am most passionate about.
"Polo allows me to have a great relationship with my true love, horses, while being a beautiful team sport combining thrills, sportsmanship and great horsemanship."
Though polo, often referred to as the sport of kings, may seem like a sport reserved for the elite, Uneku thinks other women should not be afraid to give it a try.
"I always tell people that regardless of the elitist image the sport comes with, I find polo players to be the most welcoming group of people.
"Go to your nearest polo club and ask about taking a few lessons, many clubs around the world will embrace you! And if you are having a hard time, say Neku sent you."
The passionate equestrian's talents are not limited to playing polo. She has a business degree which led to her opening a boutique hotel in Abuja. She is also a philanthropist and a Special Duties Officer at the Ministry in Abuja.
She says that though all these roles are different, they all revolve around polo, making it easy for her to juggle her different roles.
"It is easier when all the hats you wear connect to each other. Once one figures out that everything I do has a connection to polo, it is clear where my passion comes from.
"My hotel Bamboo House, for example, is bred from my travels around the world and staying in so many different hotels and resorts. I am in love with nature and wanted to bring to Abuja a spot that mixes all my different loves.
"Polo sticks are made of bamboo, thus the name, and bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants in the world. That is the business growth model we aim to accomplish.
In terms of how sport influences her business, she believes the same qualities that define a good sportsman are also useful in the business world.
"Sports analogies and what is requires to be successful on the field easily transcend to requirements in business. Know your opponent, mark your man, and keep your eyes on the ball."
Neku has had to endure her fair share of sacrifices on her path to becoming a great polo player. Sacrifices she says were worth it in the end.
"There have been sacrifices that hurt when I was younger, but I now greatly appreciate them. When my friends were recovering from heavy nights out, I would be at the polo club taking care of the horses.
"I traded the girly wants of bags and nice shoes for saddles and boots, and I would never have it any other way. My mother says all the time: 'Neku's horses dress and eat better than her!'"
Her charity, Ride to Shine, not only introduces children to polo at their centre, but has also set up a trust fund which she hopes will one day be big enough to help them pay for an education.
"Ride to Shine has set up a trust fund for the kids which goes public once they start to play in children's tournaments being organised at our centre. All funds raised through sponsorship and ticket sales go to the fund.
"We believe in equipping our children with skills for life, as opposed to handing them fish. We envision the fund growing large enough that we are able to assist exceptional children from all backgrounds with their education once they apply."
Neku has also tapped into the international network she has built over the years to benefit the charity's young polo players.
"We aim to use the world wide polo network to offer international experiences for our children, giving them a globalised view on life, and aiming to create tomorrow's visionary leaders.
"I am here because someone believed in me when the odds were against me. Because a child is born into a negative situation is no reason for it to determine their future.
"Ride to Shine aims to be that one person that believes in a child's vision for their future and helps them to achieve it."
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