OKIJA (ANAMBRA) – The President of Obijackson Foundation, Dr Ernest Obiejesi, said on Saturday that his foundation was working assiduously to develop traditional wrestling in Okija, Ihiala Local Council Area of Anambra.
Obiejesi made the remark during the traditional wrestling festival – Mgba Okija- sponsored by his foundation as part of efforts to revive the sport at Okija.
According to him, the love for traditional wrestling faded with the advent of western sports.
“This Mgba Okija which we started sponsoring this year is aimed at reviving the sport as a way of bringing back the aspect of our traditional culture and the game of our fore-fathers.
“The gesture was put together to promote the Igbo culture and norms; unity, love and peace among the people and also to put Okija on the world map.
“We are trying to bring that culture back and give youths the opportunity to be able to express themselves and we assure that the wrestling festival would be an annual event’’, he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 15 wrestlers from Ubahu Abu Ubahu, Uhuobo Na Uhuowelle and Ihite Abu Ihite took part in the event.
Mr Sunday Opia, the Technical Director of the Nigeria Traditional Sports Federation, said lack of sponsors was a major challenge facing development of traditional wrestling in the country.
According to him, traditional wrestling has been part of the people but lack of sponsors make it difficult to discover wrestlers who could win gold at the Olympics.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
While commending Obiejesi for organising the festival, he assured that the federation would continue to partner with the Obijackson Foundation in future festivals to scout talents.
Opia assured that some of the wrestlers who performed creditably at the festival would be invited to camp for the ECOWAS games coming up in Cote D’ Ivoire later in the year.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
He urged the foundation to sustain the festival so as to encourage the youths in meaningful ventures.
“People need to come out like Obijackson Foundation for the common good of the people.
“It is one way to touch the lives of the poor, entertain Nigerians and at the same preserve the culture of the people’’, the technical director said.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
The championship, classified into five categories, had the first place winners taking gold and N200,000 while silver and bronze medallists got N150,000 and N100, 000 each respectively.
The foundation also donated N2million and a bus to Ubahu Abu Ubahu for winning the highest number of medals during the festival[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”8″]
A gold winner for the super heavy weight championship, Onochie Nwadei, expressed gratitude to the organisers, expressing confidence that he would emerge victorious in future competitions. (NAN)
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