200 kids/students across the country have been confirmed for the Chika Chukwumerije Sports Foundation International Taekwondo Opens taking place at the Brickhall School, Abuja on December 5.
The event, which is sanctioned by the FCT Taekwondo Association and supported by the Board of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation, has kids from schools and clubs across the FCT and the seven states in the North Central.
Clubs from other states like Benue, Imo, Cross River and Kaduna States have also indicated interest in being part of the programme.
According to an official statement released by the organizers, the objective of the event is to “produce prospective future Olympians and World Champions; Expose kids to the latest technological gadgets and technical experience available in the sport; Build the confidence and experience of the kids through competitive experience; and Foster a healthy social interaction between kids from different communities.”
According to the programme coordinator, Kemi Isaac, who is an officer with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and a Taekwondo Black-Belt practitioner: “The kids deserve the exact same attention and opportunities given to the adults during the highly successful edition held four weeks ago, as the kids are the future Olympians and World Champions that must be groomed from today.”
For the Proprietor of Brickhall School, Senator Joy Emodi, the event is a game-changer.
Emordi said: “There is no parent who will not be excited for their wards practicing taekwondo to be part of a quality program like this. The importance of ensuing that extra-curricular activities like sports are intertwined with the education of our children to solidify their development and improve their social skills cannot be over-emphasized.”
For Chief Executive Officer of CCSF, Chika Chukwumerije, who is a three-time Olympian and a Beijing 2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist, the emphasis is on exposing the young ones at a young age to increase Nigeria’s chances of getting more Olympians in the future.
Chukwumerije said: “It is a special event because the kids are going to be using the same Daedo electronic system being used at the RIO 2016 Olympics and the sky will truly be their limit is we sustain this kind of programme over the next 10 years.”