Ferguson Oluigbo, the Chairman of the Nigeria Taekwondo Referee Association says the maiden Taekwondo International Schools Workshop is to rekindle participation in the sport at the grassroots.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that over 30 young taekwondoists participated in the workshop organised by Oluigbo on November 19 at National Stadium Surulere, Lagos.
He said that the aim of the event was to increase the interest of school children and develop their skills in the sport.
Oluigbo said: “This is the first time we are having this event and we brought in grandmasters with the technical know-how in the sport to teach participants taekwondo.
“Some of the instructors we send to schools to introduce the sport to children in primary and secondary schools were equally trained.
“The turnout for the programme was very impressive, we will do everything necessary to sustain the programme so that more children can benefit.’’
Meanwhile, Bolu Adegboye, one of the participants told NAN that the workshop was an eye opener for him.
Eight-year-old Adegboye said that the programme had helped to increase his knowledge of the sport.
Adegboye said: “I’m happy to be part of the programme and I have learnt new skills in taekwondo.’’
Also, Stephen Inegbese, 18, urged the organisers to sustain the programme.
He said: “They taught us how to use taekwondo as a communication skill and I really enjoyed it.’’
NAN reports that instructors at the workshop include grandmaster Koffi Anani, Emmanuel Oghenejobo, a silver medalist at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Others are grandmaster Jin Beom Kim, a Korean high performance coach in Nigeria and NTF President, George Ashiru.
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