By Lucy Omakpo
The Federal government has reaffirmed its support for the development of Wushu martial art sport in Nigeria.
Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, made the disclosure on Friday while speaking at the finals of the 2025 “Chinese Ambassador’s Cup” Wushu Championship at the Velodrome, National Stadium, Abuja.
Dikko applauded the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, and the Chinese government for their role in strengthening bilateral sports ties, describing the initiative as a model for cultural and youth development between both nations.
“First and foremost, I want to congratulate and thank the Chinese Ambassador and the Chinese Embassy for their support, not just toward the Wushu Ambassador’s Cup, but also for the broader collaborations between Nigeria and China. We are quite delighted and happy with this partnership,” he said.
Dikko noted that Wushu, a traditional Chinese martial art, is fast gaining recognition in Nigeria and offers a unique opportunity to empower young people through sports.
“Wushu is a new sport that is gaining ground in Nigeria, and I believe we should support it to create another pathway for our youth to live their dreams,” he stated.
The chairman expressed optimism that the sport’s growing global recognition, especially with its inclusion in the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games will inspire more Nigerian youth to explore opportunities in martial arts and related disciplines.
“It’s quite pleasing to learn that the sport is gradually reaching Olympic level. We will take it very seriously. Wushu is already part of our National Sports Festival, and we will continue to partner with the Chinese Embassy and the local Wushu Federation to advance this sport,” he added.
Mr Dikko reaffirmed the Federal Government’s full commitment to supporting the growth of Wushu and other emerging sports, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of developing a robust sports ecosystem and economy that promotes talent development, job creation, and international collaboration.
Earlier in his remarks, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, described Wushu as “a precious treasure of Chinese culture,” noting that it promotes not only physical fitness but also moral values such as respect, discipline, and harmony.
“Wushu embodies core Chinese values—self-discipline, self-improvement, and a commitment to respecting and helping others. These values resonate deeply with Nigerian culture, which also cherishes hard work and social harmony,” he said.
Ambassador Yu emphasised that the event aligns with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Global Civilisation Initiative, which promotes mutual learning among civilisations, and with the outcomes of the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), where both Presidents Xi Jinping and Bola Ahmed Tinubu agreed to strengthen cultural and sports exchanges between the two nations.
“This championship represents an important step in implementing the Global Civilisation Initiative and fulfilling the consensus reached by our two heads of state.
“Through this event, we hope to promote mutual learning between our civilisations, strengthen people-to-people bonds, and lay a solid foundation for the long-term development of the China-Nigeria comprehensive strategic partnership,” he added.
Organised by the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria in collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Wushu Kung Fu Federation, the event featured a thrilling display of martial artistry, where athletes showcased remarkable skill and agility in categories such as Taichi, Sanda, Taolu, and Creative Forms.
Winners received cash prizes, with gold medalists earning ₦500,000, silver medalists ₦300,000, and bronze medalists ₦200,000.
The Taichi category saw Naima Sanusi win gold, with Nasiru Umaru and Henry Hendrix earning silver and bronze medals.
In the Male Sanda event, Goodluck Emmanuel secured the top spot, while Kunle Awoyele and Tarkpe Stephen came in second and third. In the Female Sanda category, Winifred Agara dominated the field to claim gold, Mabel Aduotukeme won silver, and Mercy Joshua took bronze.
In the Creative Form category, Henry Hendrix clinched gold, while Emmanuel Udem and Taiwo Faboro took silver and bronze, respectively. In the Taolu Single event, Justice Unaka emerged champion, followed by Adeyonju Miracle in second place and Esther Obaremi in third.
