Sports
FCT Kung Fu Association Chairman, Mubdiyu Adebayo, Vows to Prioritize Sport’s Visibility
By Joel Ajayi
Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Kung Fu Association, Mustapha Mubdiyu Adebayo, has reaffirmed his commitment to giving the sport more visibility across Abuja and beyond.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja at the weekend, Adebayo, a professional town planner, said his administration’s top priority is to ensure Kung Fu gains recognition through grassroots development, schools, and community engagement.
“If you ask many people about Kung Fu, they will tell you they don’t know it or have never seen it practiced. My vision is to change that. Visibility means involving more people, which is why we are reaching out to schools and the private sector,” he said.
Despite challenges such as inadequate training equipment and limited facilities, Adebayo believes the sport has already shown great potential. He recalled that during the last National Sports Festival, only four athletes represented the FCT in Kung Fu — and all returned with medals.
“If four athletes could win medals, imagine what would happen if we had more participants. That is why our focus is on the youth. The earlier young people get involved, the faster the sport will grow,” he noted.
To actualize this vision, the association is working with the FCT School Sports Committee to integrate Kung Fu into school competitions. The first-ever inter-school championship is scheduled for the first quarter of next year.
Adebayo also revealed that beyond institutional efforts, he has personally supported athletes, from catering for their welfare during the last festival to providing equipment ahead of the National Youth Games.
On concerns that martial arts may promote violence, he explained that Kung Fu does the opposite, emphasizing discipline, self-control, and confidence.
“The world is becoming more violent every day. Parents should see martial arts as giving children confidence and basic self-defence skills, not as a tool for violence,” he stressed.
He further called for private sector involvement in Kung Fu’s development, while urging strategic partnerships that will be mutually beneficial to both sponsors and the sport.
Looking ahead, Adebayo outlined short- and long-term targets for the association. While the immediate focus is grassroots participation and visibility, the ultimate goal is to see Nigeria compete strongly on the continental and global stage, including the Olympics.
“For now, the target is grassroots participation and visibility. The long-term dream is medals for Nigeria,” he concluded.
With the planned school championship set to kick off next year, the FCT Kung Fu Association is positioning itself to expand the sport’s reach and secure its place in Nigeria’s sporting landscape.
Sports
Nigeria Targets Grassroots Sports Revival as Tinubu’s Aide Adeboye Unveils National Sports Grassroots Summit
Joel Ajayi
The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Grassroots Sports Development, Adeboye Adeyinka, has called for a comprehensive overhaul of grassroots sports development in Nigeria, urging stakeholders to prioritise youth empowerment, education and national development alongside medals and trophies.
Adeyinka stated this on Thursday in Abuja during a press conference while announcing the 2026 National Grassroots Sports Summit, scheduled for November 18 and 19 at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The summit, with the theme, “Creating a New Pathway for Sustainable Grassroots Sports Development,” is expected to bring together government officials, sports administrators, state and local government representatives, private-sector investors, development partners, coaches, athletes and other stakeholders.
The presidential aide stressed that sports development must be measured not only by international achievements but also by the number of young Nigerians whose lives are positively transformed through participation in sports.
He noted that while sporting excellence could lead some athletes to Olympic medals and World Cup glory, sports also offered millions of young people opportunities for education, personal development, employment and social inclusion.
“Sometimes, when we discuss sports development, we speak about stadiums, trophies, medals and international competitions.
“But I want us to remember that at the heart of every sporting achievement is a human being,” Adeyinka said.
He explained that participation in sports could help young Nigerians secure university scholarships, develop discipline, build confidence, acquire life skills and stay away from negative influences.
According to him, sports should be recognised as an important instrument for building character, strengthening communities and creating opportunities for young people, irrespective of their backgrounds.
On talent identification, Adeyinka expressed concern that Nigeria continues to lose potential sporting talents because many children lack access to adequate facilities, qualified coaches, encouragement and organised talent-discovery programmes.
He emphasised the need for an inclusive grassroots sports system that would provide equal opportunities for children in rural communities, public schools, underserved areas and different socioeconomic backgrounds.
The presidential aide maintained that a child’s sporting prospects should not be determined by geographical location, family background or connections to influential individuals.
He warned that without a coordinated approach to identifying and nurturing young talents, the country could continue to miss opportunities to discover future champions.
Adeyinka said the forthcoming summit was designed to develop a sustainable national framework for identifying, nurturing and supporting sporting talents across the 774 local government areas.
He added that the gathering would seek practical solutions to the challenges affecting grassroots sports administration rather than focus solely on speeches and ceremonial activities.
A major objective, he explained, was to move away from fragmented talent-discovery initiatives towards a coordinated national structure connecting school and community competitions with clubs, national competitions and international sporting opportunities.
The two-day summit will deliberate on five key areas: sports participation, talent development, infrastructure, the sports economy and international pathways.
Adeyinka expressed optimism that the recommendations from the summit would provide a roadmap for strengthening grassroots sports development, expanding youth participation and positioning sports as a viable contributor to Nigeria’s economic and social development.
He called on relevant stakeholders to support the initiative and work collectively towards building a sustainable grassroots sports system capable of identifying and developing talents across the country.
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