•Sadula, Onipe, GSSS among awardees
By Aduku Aruwa
It was a day of applause and galaxy of honours as the State Wrestling Association celebrated wrestling excellence in Kogi State.
The award ceremony which was organised in collaboration with the Confluence Wrestlers Association, witnessed the gathering of political personalities, top wrestling enthusiasts and relevant stakeholders.
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No fewer than 40 individuals and groups were honoured at the event for their immense contributions and meritorious service towards sports development in Kogi State.
Some of the notable names include Coach Mozi Onipe Ikutemi and Coach Shaibu Abdullahi, (aka Sadula ) who were honoured with the Grand Awards for Excellence, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to wrestling during their active coaching days.
The young athletes were not left out as Sanni Gabriel (52 kg), a student of Government Science Secondary School,(GSSS) Lokoja, and the current national champion at the 8th National Youth Games held in Asaba, Delta state in 2024.
Others are ; Adedapo Peculiar Ti-jesu , a student of Bishop Delises College, Lokoja. She equally represented Kogi state at the 8th National Youth games, Asaba 2024 .
She won Gold at the Wrestling fiesta.
The list of awardees also has Irewole Ayodele , Yakubu saliu, Peniel Tobiloba (Crowther Memorial College), David Sanni, (GSSS), Gabriel Idowu ,(GSSS), Daniel Joseph (GSSS), Kayode Joshua (GSSS), Sule Olayiwola ( a bronze medalist), Bababida Abdul and Jamiu Adiza.
Bishop Delises College, Lokoja as well as Government Science Secondary School, Lokoja were equally honored with Awards of Excellence for their contributions to the development of wrestling in Kogi State.
Awom Grace Modupe and Joseph Folashade Aina, staff of Government Science Secondary School, Lokoja, were equally honoured for their outstanding contributions to the development of wrestling in the state.
Members of the political class celebrated at the event include the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Honorable Monday Anyebe, Chairman House Committee on Sports, Hon, Sunday Daku, who bagged Awards of Excellence.
Wrestling veterans and heads honoured at the ceremony include, Obakachi Onipe Hall, Abdullahi shuaibu (AKA Sadula), Mozi Onipe Ikutemi, Philip Olawale Momoh and Wrestling Chairman, Ayodeji Ojuekaye.
Meanwhile, the landmark event, the first of its kind in the history of wrestling in kogi state, was made possible through the active contributions of the state coach for wrestling Coach,Ojo Ologuja.
Speaking at the event, Coach Ojo Ologunja, who is a Deputy Director and state coach for wrestling said the honor bestowed on the two retired coaches serves as a testament to their hard work, commitment, and the role mentorship plays in shaping successful athletes and future coaches.
Coach Ologunja paid heartfelt tribute to the honorees, particularly Coach Ikutemi, for the profound influence he had on his journey, first as a wrestler and later as a coach, emphasising the impact of Ikutemi’s value and mentorship in his personal and professional growth is highly appreciated.
Dispelling common misconceptions about wrestling, the Deputy Director emphasised that wrestling is neither a dangerous activity nor a form of street fighting.
He said instead, it is a disciplined sport governed by a strict code of ethics, adding that wrestling offers significant financial rewards surpassing those in football, especially in the Western world.
Coach Ologunja, therefore, urged youths and their parents to see wrestling as a viable career path for young athletes.
He noted that Kogi State has produced many accomplished wrestlers who have earned gold, silver, and bronze medals in various national and international sporting events.
The Deputy Director, however, called for enhanced state’s commitment to nurturing more talents and investment in sports development.
He expressed his appreciation for parents who willingly allow their children to undergo wrestling training and participate in competitions, adding that their support plays a crucial role in fostering the next generation of athletes and channeling the behavior of youths towards activity devoid of crime and criminality.
According to him, wrestling provides athletes with opportunities to travel abroad for competitions, maintain good health, enhance mental alertness for self-defense, improve social interactions, achieve fame, and secure employment, among other benefits.
He said the basic skills wrestlers need to excel in the sport include, good health, balancing, motion and ability to penetrate opponents among others.
Coach Ologunja described wrestling as a sport that has the capacity to occupy the minds of youth and discourage them from engaging in anti social activities.
Speaking on the sideline of the novel event, Coach Ikutemi, the unbeaten International Wrestling Champion in Okene, since 1993, described his award as a dream come true.
The Coach,who thanked the association for recognizing his immense contributions to the development of wrestling in the state, disclosed that he has trained many wrestlers most of won more than 30 gold and other medals in various sports competitiond in Nigeria and abroad.
He advised the state government to intensify efforts in improving sporting facilities, adding that it would go along way in encouraging wrestlers to stay in the state and win more medals, instead of looking for greener pastures in other states or abroad.
Highlight at the fiesta was exhibition showcasing the various wrestling fights from amateur to professional fight and presentation of certificates to other stakehokders for the their contributions to the development of wrestling in the state.
