December 12, (THEWILL) – Renew Empire Nigeria Limited has said that it is ready to host the maiden edition of the Niger Delta Traditional Wrestling Tournament in Bayelsa State, in collaboration with its branch based in Turkey.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Mr Gospel Obolo, the event is aimed at promoting the rich cultural heritage of Bayelsa State and the entire Niger Delta, as well as to put the state on the international scene.
“We hope that this festival will bring improvement in all ramifications in Ogbia Kingdom and Bayelsa state in general. Culture is the pride of a people. This wrestling tournament will bring back our culture and preserve the tradition we have neglected,” Obolo said, while presenting gifts to the winners of a similar contest held in Otuoke, Bayelsa.
More than 100 athletes participated in the competition under various wrestling clubs. Three clubs made it to the finals of the tournament clinching first, second and third positions, respectively.
Renew Empire Wrestling Club clinched first position with 131 points and was rewarded with a cash gift of N500,000, a gold medal and trophy. The first runner- up, Azibet Wrestling Club got 112 points, a silver medal and received the sum of N250,000, while the second runner-up, the Otuoke Communitiy Wrestling Club finished with103 points and was rewarded with N100,000 and a bronze medal.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the event, the chief executive officer of the firm, thanked the Bayelsa State Government for its support in the course of hosting the tournament, adding that throughout the competition the security agencies helped to maintain peace and order within and around the venues.
He said, “I’m not hosting this event for any political reason. I’m not a politician, Renew empire Nigeria Ltd and Renew group Republic of Turkey did this to empower our youths so that we can take them off the streets.
“We must remember that our traditional wrestling has produced so many champions in the past and can still produce more. With this competition, over time we can start producing international traditional wrestling champions to represent not only Bayelsa State and Nigeria, but even other countries of the world.
“Our next plan is to host the Niger Delta states traditional wrestling tournament from next year. And we intend to reward the winner of that tournament with the sum of N 1 million.”
Presenting the awards, the paramount ruler of Otuoke Communitiy, HRH, Ariwareni Paul, commended the organisers for empowering the youth of Bayelsa through the various competitions featured during the 17-day event.
The monarch congratulated the winners and gave them the assurance that the community would continue to partner the organisers.
Similarly, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Bayelsa State on Tourism, Priye Kiyaramo, has commended the Renew Group for the feat achieved through the sporting events and other tourism programmes.
The Ogbia Traditional Wrestling Festival started on November 18 and ended on December 5, 2021.
Bayelsa State has excelled in wrestling competitions at local and international stages. The current President of the Nigerian Wrestling Federation and Chairman of the Technical Committee of the Nigerian Olympic Committee, Daniel Igali, is an indigene of the state.
Igali captained the Nigerian Wrestling team to the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Canada and later defected to Canada and won for the North American country its first gold medal in wrestling at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games. He also won a gold medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
Historically, before Igali’s exploits, Jackson Bidei from Amasoma in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state had made his mark in free-style wrestling at the Commonwealth Games.
Other wrestling champions that Bayelsa has produced include Appah Macaulay, Victor Kodei, who was 23 times African champion; Jeo Eziti and Isaac Jacob, an eight-time African champion. In the female category, Blessing Oborududu was an seven-time African champion, while 19 year-old Mercy Genesis has won her second African title and was part of Team Nigeria to the last Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
To an average Bayelsan, traditional wrestling is the ancestral sport of the Ijaw and most families are deeply interested in it.
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