The President of the Armwrestling Federation of Africa (AFA), Charles Osei Asibey, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the Nigerian government’s support in successfully hosting the 14th Africa Armwrestling Championship.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the continental event, Asibey described Nigeria’s commitment as “unprecedented,” highlighting the country’s growing influence in hosting major sports competitions.
“We have found a government that believes in armwrestling,” Asibey said. “I want to thank His Excellency the President of Nigeria for giving us this opportunity to be your guest.”
Representing President Tinubu at the ceremony, Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, officially declared the championship open. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to hosting international sports events as part of the administration’s broader sports economy initiative.
“In one week, Nigeria has hosted three major African Championships in athletics, karate, and armwrestling, drawing participants from over 30 countries in each, and 45 countries in the athletics championships alone,” Dikko stated. “This aligns with the sports economy mandate handed to us by the President, which aims at opening our doors to the world. We want Nigeria to be a global sports hub.
“When we host these tournaments, it’s not just about showcasing talent—it’s also about the economic opportunities and jobs they create. So as soon as the chance came to host this championship, we jumped at it. Once there are medals involved, we are involved.”
Also speaking at the event was the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development and Chairman of the Main Organising Committee, Adeboye Adeyinka, who expressed confidence in the country’s capacity to deliver a world-class championship experience.
Notable dignitaries at the opening included Chief Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication and former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, as well as Senator John Enoh, Minister of State for Industry and former Sports Minister.
The 14th Africa Armwrestling Championship continues through the weekend, featuring elite athletes from across the continent competing for glory in one of Africa’s fastest-growing sports.
