The essence of bringing Renew Ogbia Wrestling Festival to fruition is for other tribes, in Nigeria to benefit from Bayelsa state and the culture, tradition, and local delicacies in Ogbia kingdom, says Engr Gospel Obolo.
The managing director/CEO of the renew empire Nigeria and the renew group in the republic of Turkey, Engr Gospel Obolo, who spoke at the ongoing festival in Otuoke, said, the seventeen days traditional wrestling festival was intended to take away youths from the streets and redirect their productive energies to gainful employment.
He averred that, through sports, youths can be pulled off crime and other social vices. “Apart from pulling the youths out of the street, the intention is to make the traditional wrestling a professional sport that could be competed for at the Olympics games with redefined rules.
“Our traditional wrestling has given a lot to Nigeria, if you look at those that have won medals for Nigeria from Olympics and common wealth, they came out from wrestling, and we have abandoned them, because of that we have not been winning medals again. Look at a girl silver medal we are happy.
“If we can do with traditional wrestling competition, we will see a lot of young talents again. That is the same thing I want to do for swimmers. How can you call yourself, a Bayelsa, Rivers state and other we can’t get swimmers?
“If we can do it daily or monthly, we can start making money. To be more serious, we will get young champions again,” Obolo said.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the wrestling event, tagged: “Ibe Onin, Preye Kiyaramo the Senior Special Assistant to the State Governor on tourism said, Otueke town was becoming a potential entertainment hub in the Niger Delta region.
Kiyaramo said that, Renew Empire Entertainment and Sports Tourism Centre, Otueke has the capacity of turning the quiet community into an emerging live entertainment capital in the Niger Delta region region.
” The broad scope of entertainment options including nightlife, shows, exhibitions and poolside parties among others will draw the attention of visitors and tourists in droves to the peaceful town in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa state.
” Music has been one of the great ways of promoting tourism all across the globe. This is mainly due to the fact that in most instances, music helps in displaying the beauty and elegance of the host city at its best.”
