….As Lawmaker,PG Ohaneze,NPWF President, others seeks government support, introduce youth mentorship to FG.
Emmanuel lkpeama.
The two day wrestling championship hosted by the Nigeria Professional Wrestling Federation (NPWF) has ended in Lagos as Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu of Lagos state has promised to collaborate with the NPWF so as to encourage more youths at the grassroots.
The Governor,who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Grassroots Sports, Mr Adebanji Atewogboye stated this at the opening ceremony of the Annual Wrestling Championship tagged “Battle Ground” held at the Big Apple Royale Hotel lagos.
He went further to state that his administration will continue to provide conducive atmosphere for all youths in the state to excel as he will continue to encourage sports development at the grassroots.
Gov Sanwo Olu acknowledge the Nigeria Professional Wrestling Federation for coming up with such an entertaining and world class championship, noting that his office would collaborate with the NPWF to ensure that we organize more wrestling competitions for the youths in order to reduce violence and other social vices in the state.
” This competition is a wonderful initiative and it is commendable, having this kind of sports at the grassroots level, will help our youths in the state and help in reducing violence and other social vices”
” Wrestling is one sports,we really need to invest into and we are going to engage critical stakeholders, people that loves sports and see how we can collaborate with the Nigeria Professional Wrestling Federation” he stated.
The Member representing Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency ll,Hon Okey Joe Onuakalusi who was represented by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication,Mazi Chuks Sunday-Nwosu thanked the NPWF for organising such events in his constituency instead of the stadium thereby encouraging the youths of his constituency.
The Lawmaker opined that the benefits of sports generally cannot be taken for granted because it helps in mental alertness, reduces risk of illnesses, and improves the total well being of an individual.
He noted that sports is also a veritable means of job creation and as such wants to remind the youths present that they can make a career in professional wrestling as they have so many big names in Nigeria, and across the globe who have excelled as wrestlers.
Continuing,the legal luminary who is also the legal adviser to the Nigeria Professional Wrestling Federation stated that he would use his office to continue to encourage more of these events and work assiduously to ensure that the government will show more interest in the wrestling championship and boast the profession, while advising the organisers to be consistent and to use it to discover more talents that will will international laurels for the country.
Earlier the President, Nigeria Wrestling Federation, High Chief John Uche in his address explained that they decided to hold the championship at Oke- Afa, a suburb of Lagos State in order to enable Nigerians residing far from the city centres the opportunity to see what Nigerian wrestlers can do as well as encourage the youths to be useful to themselves rather than engaging in kidnapping, armed robbery,crime and other social vices.
Chief Uche went further to state that the federation has produced six youths that are doing the nation proud at the international wrestling scene(WWE) and if given the right support from the federal government, the professional wrestling would use its games as a tool to entice the youths to enable them stop restiveness which has culminated the insecurity bedeviling our great nation today.
” Today,due to government negligence on professional wrestling,most of our youths who would have been useful to themselves,the society and the country,now turn themselves to kidnappers and armed robbers due to lack of job opportunities. For this reason we have decided to combat this menace using the game of professional wrestling as a tool to entice our youths,we are going to introduce mentorship program to the Federal Government and Governors of our 36states”.
“Our target is to train at least 15 youths from each of the 774 local government areas, at the end of the two weeks training and mentoring,we would have succeeded in impacting the lives of more than 11,610 youths as we would stage an international wrestling championship in an effort to promote the game after the two weeks training “he stated.
The president also used the opportunity to appeal to the Federal Government to extend statutory allocation to the Federation to enable it take the game to higher pedestal just as he stated that with adequate funding both from government and corporate organisations, the country will rule the rest of the world in professional wrestling.
” I have said it on several fora that we have wrestlers who can rule the world in the mats man game but we’ve not gotten the financial support needed for them to go beyond Africa and conquer the world,there is need for local, state and federal government to take special interest in this sports and invest in it to enable us produce world beaters.”
“Presently Nigerians are in the WWE doing the country proud and a Nigerian is the national champion in Japan,all we want is for the Federal Government to consider giving wrestling statutory allocation from the Federation account which will enable us train youths in the game and make them stay out of drugs, kidnapping, crimes and other social vices for the good of the society”, he submitted.
The chairman of the occasion High Chief lfeanyi Peter Asonye expressed his delight to the organizers of the championship, stating that the championship will discover more talents and help to improve the standard of wrestling in Nigeria.
Chief Asonye who is the Lord Mayor of peace in lbeju lekki went further to state that the youths need to be encouraged financially by the state and federal government so as discover more talents and help to reduce crime and other social vices in the country.
“I want to appeal to all youths out there to make use of their talent, we thought this wrestling was acting but l have seen it that this is real like we have in the WWE. I also want to urge the government to assist this NPWF and the youths because every youths has a talent but lack finance but l urged the wrestlers to continue with this zeal,go out there, give in their best and make the country proud” he said.
The President Ohaneze Ndigbo Social cultural organization, Lord Mayor Solomon Ogbonna Aguene urges the youths to shun social vices and develop on their God given talent as it take them to their highest level in life.
Chief Aguene who is the United Nation Ambassador of Peace noted that Nigerians are confronted with so much adversity, insecurity and problems that has castrated the economy, noting that if the youths who are future leaders engage in sporting activities especially those who have nothing to do,it will reduce the influx of restive youths out of the streets.
He said ” this is a wonderful entertainment,l want to commend the Nigeria Professional Wrestling Federation for organizing such event by taking up the bold step in ensuring that the restive youths are engaged in sporting activities like this”
“This will help in evacuating the restive youths out the streets so as to be useful to themselves,the society and the country at large. Sports can take any youth to another level,to another pinnacle of their life and also help in reducing crime and restiveness in our system. I want to appeal to government to come and assist in developing more talents in wrestling competitions by supporting and ensuring that the NPWF gets the right statutory budget”he stated.
In his remarks, General Manager of the hotel, Victor Ekekwe stated that he was overwhelmed with what he saw at the two day event, noting that his organisation being a sports friendly one will always partner with NPWF to popularize the sports.
” I’m really amazed with what I witnessed throughout the duration of the championship. Prior to this time, I had the believe that wrestling is stage managed but seeing these great men and women right here in front of me fighting themselves, my perception for the game changed.
” All our customers really enjoyed themselves, rooting for more action as the fights lasted and I appeal to government at all levels to take special interest in this game, invest in it and I can assure you, we’ll produce many world champions in no distant time”, he stressed.
Meanwhile in some of the fights decided in the championship, Mighty man defeated Flying Danco to retain his National heavyweight champion title, Mighty Progress recorded a pinfall against De Tiger while old war horse, God’s Gift beat debutant Fredrick Rodrick by pinfall.
In another bout, Sharpman pinfall Zion lron in a knockout,in the women fight, Iron Becky and Stylish J continued their rivalry in the ring but both wrestlers were disqualified following the interference in their fight by Alexandra De Queen who came in to support Iron Becky.
However, the most entertaining fight of the night which kept fans asking for more action as it lasted was between Captain Dunga and Power Vic,the fight was action packed and so brutal that at a stage, they took the fight to outside the ring which prompted the referee to disqualify both fighters.
He went further to state that the event is a dual celebration of his survival and birthday party which is usually celebrated every 24th of March, noting that this year’s birthday is quite different because of the survival party where the devil came to take his life few days before his birthday.
“After about 2hours, someone came to see me,as l tried putting on my trousers l slumped,if not for the intervention of my pharmacist friend who my wife beckoned to come and l was rushed to the hospital where l stayed for five days,by now so many people would have been preparing for my funeral. So l decided to eat and celebrate with my friends, colleagues and the kingdom seekers,so as thank God with me.”he stated.
The wife to the celebrant,Mrs Chidi Anthony expressed gratitude over the birthday celebration of her husband, stating that the celebration is to thank God for a life of fulfillment and giving him the second chance even when the devil came to steal his life.
Eze Dr. Chika Nwokedi chairman council of Ezes in Lagos, Ezeokpoko 1, Ezendigbo Ijegun Ijeododo appreciates the celebrant for his goodwill, says he is a man of many parts.
” I am so happy with this family and l will always identify with them any time because l have known him and family for over 20years. He is a wonderful person to be with,a peacemaker and a man of God with honor ” he submitted.
“Her Excellency is a peace maker,a mother who has touched so many lives, especially the husband,his Excellency when he was governor of Lagos state, the lgbos.are still celebrating him because of his impact,his relationship and contributions to the growth of various lgbo living in Lagos today.”
Pastor Okon thanked God Almighty and the leaders of Isolo Ejigbo Province for giving him and his team the opportunity to serve in this capacity.
The statement continues”Sir as you celebrate your birthday today,may the love and kindness you have shown to others return to you in abundance. May your joy be boundless, and may you continue to inspire us with your visionary leadership.
The Chairman of the Ndigbo Buru’Otu Association,Eze Dr Chika.C Nwokedi stated this on Thursday morning,21st of March 2024,noting that members of the association woke up to a heart wrenching act of demolition carried out by Federal Housing Authority on their structures in Ijeododo part of Lagos State.
Eze Ambassador C.C.Nwokedi who is the Eze Ndigbo of Ijegun/Ijedodo pointed out that Igbos within and outside his jurisdiction of leadership approached him to verify a genuine land as their leader and he led them through the appropriate source by contacting the baale who inturn issues family receipt,only to find out that the land is not genuinely owned by the ruling family but Federal Housing Authority,
The baale of Ijeododo High Chief Abu-Jelili Ayinde Ododo and his executives in response to the different complaints and allegations denied involvement and knowledge of the demolition, a man named Mr lawal who is FHA Surveyor accompanied by some people visited his palace in 2024 claiming their land is extended to some areas in ijeododo.
The Baale express disappointment at the sudden demolition after proffering solution to avoid it, he opined that he is genuinely bothered by the recent development, while urging the affected persons to be calm as he is in control of this situation as well as gathering vital information.