Mobolaji Iyabode Akiode (born May 12, 1982) is an American-born former Nigerian women's basketball player.[1] [2]
Born in New Jersey, her family relocated to Nigeria shortly thereafter. Akiode moved back to the United States when she was nine[3] and was raised in Maplewood, New Jersey. She was bullied for her height, but excelled academically and athletically and led Columbia High School to the 1998 state championship[4] before graduating in 1999.[5] Akiode earned a scholarship to play college basketball at Fordham University. At Fordham, Akiode won all-conference honors in her senior year and was the eighth Fordham player to record 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in her career. She also earned a tryout with the WNBA's Detroit Shock following her collegiate career.[6]
Akiode studied Accounting at Gabelli School of business, Fordham University, she graduated in 2004.[7] She obtained her Masters of Business Administration from the New York University Stern School of Business in 2014.[7] [1]
Akiode earned a scholarship to play college basketball at Fordham University. At Fordham, Akiode won all-conference honors in her senior year and was the eighth Fordham player to record 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in her career. She also earned a tryout with the WNBA's Detroit Shock following her collegiate career.[6] She was inducted into the Fordhams University basketball Hall of fame in 2014.[7]
Source[8]
| Year | Team | GP | Points | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-00 | Forham | 27 | 162 | 42.5% | 0.0% | 60.3% | 5.0 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 6.0 | |
| 2000-01 | Forham | 26 | 233 | 45.5% | 0.0% | 72.4% | 5.5 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 9.0 | |
| 2001-02 | Forham | 29 | 277 | 39.0% | 32.4% | 71.6% | 4.0 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 9.6 | |
| 2002-03 | Forham | 30 | 495 | 40.1% | 30.6% | 77.0% | 5.4 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 16.5 | |
| Career | 112 | 1167 | 41.1% | 30.4% | 71.9% | 4.9 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 10.4 |
Akiode was member of the Nigeria women's national basketball team at the 2004 Summer Olympics[9] and 2006 Commonwealth Games. She graduated from Fordham with a degree in accounting. After graduation, she landed a job to work for ESPN. She moved back to Nigeria in 2010 to start a basketball camp.[4] In 2014, she was named one of ESPNW's Impact 25.[10]
Akiode organizes an annual basketball camp called the Hope for Girls basketball camp which seeks to develop and mentor girls in the knowledge of basketball.She has created opportunities for women to play basketball and study outside of Nigeria.[11] [2] [12]