[5] At the age of 14, she became the Nigeria National Sports Festival (NSF) Champion in the 400 metres, winning the title in a personal best of 52.36s.

She caused an upset which surprised the journalists and officials as she beat older and more experienced athletes to take the title.

[6] Yinka Ajayi had been in superb form that year, making the Commonwealth Games final and finishing third over the 400m at the African Championships; so she was expected to take the title.

Her performances at the Festival prompted her selection in the Nigerian team that was sent to train in the United States before the Tokyo Olympic Games.

The Nigerian team, made up of Johnson Chidera Nnamani, Uko, Opeyemi Deborah Oke and Bamidele Ajayi, won the event in a Championship record time of 3:19.70.