By Milcah Tanimu
In a move to promote grassroots development of Taekwondo in Nigeria, the Korea Cultural Centre Nigeria (KCCN) has initiated a termly Taekwondo training project for selected public schools in Lagos State and Abuja. The training sessions, which began on November 15, are set to continue until November 24, according to a statement released by the KCCN in Abuja.
The KCCN’s project focuses on enhancing the skills of students in specific Basic schools in the Federal Capital Territory and Lagos. The statement highlighted the commitment of the KCCN to developing Taekwondo at the grassroots level in Nigeria.
The selected schools for the KCCN Public School Taekwondo project include Nigeria-Korea Model School, Piwoyi, Lugbe Road Abuja; Junior Secondary School Maitama Abuja; LEA Wuse Zone 3 Abuja; LEA Maitama Abuja; LEA Wuse Zone 2 Abuja; Boys Junior Academy, Mandillas, Lagos Island; and Kuramo Junior High School, Sandfill, Victoria Island, Lagos.
While the Abuja training project has been ongoing for five years, the Lagos initiative began in June 2023. The current training session, part of the first term of the 2023/24 academic year, is scheduled to conclude on November 24, 2023.
Each school participating in the project enlists the involvement of forty students who receive training under the guidance of experienced Taekwondo instructors. The KCCN supports the initiative by regularly providing uniforms, first-aid kits, and other Taekwondo training accessories to enhance the students’ interest and skills.
As a highlight of the program, a biennial U-15 Taekwondo championship is organized for students from these schools. The most recent edition occurred in November 2022 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, with the next edition anticipated towards the end of 2024.
