BENIN CITY – Members of the Nigerian Karate Federation (NKF) have decorated Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu with an honorary Black Belt award, an “Award of the 4th Degree.”
Members of the Karate Federation, a body of martial practitioners who operate within university communities to encourage physical activities in an academic environment stated that they singled out the Deputy Governor for the award based on his sterling qualities and support for sports in general.
The sports body who had just hosted the 2nd Edition of the Nigerian University Karate (NUKA) Championship 2019, at the University of Benin acknowledged that the award recipient was nominated based on his positive role of promoting sports.
President, NUKA, Mustafa Mohammad said the Deputy Governor was, “Decorated because he merited and earned it. He enters the pitch to play as a professional footballer. By this act, he is telling youths that with sports, you can liberate your mind and stop prostitution.
Self cultivation brings honour and integrity. Across the African subregion, he is an example of a leader who plays from the heart for the good of Nigeria.
Character is what he is after. This is what Karate is about. We take pride in morals and leadership style.”
Comrade Shaibu while acknowledging the honour done him by the Karate body assured them of his resolve to work closely with them to grow the image and level of the game.
He observed, “Karate is beyond the martial aspect; it is all about the use of the brain because it is an intellectual thing and leadership.
Like the Chinese would say, ‘good thinking, good product.’ For Karate, it is about thinking, precision and doing trust worthy things as well as acting with knowledge.
For me, it is all encompassing. If you need to be a true leader, then you need to know the culture of karate. That I have discovered.
It is an enhancement. Training is also meant to enhance the leadership skills God has given to us. I want to assure you that we would help to drive that process.
I am excited that our team Edo athletes also participated in the NUKA Championship.I see it as a refresher training for them as it is preparatory to the 2020 games.
We would put our team in front for Edo 2020 to help project it, especially to the young ones in primary and secondary schools and even university.
When that culture is imbibed from primary to the university level, it would make youths have a better sense of discipline and attitude. That is the dream and what karate stands for.”
Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor also met with Coaches and Assistant Coaches of Edo State Sports Commission with the aim of fine tuning arrangements for the successful performance of the state’s contingent at the forth coming Edo 2020 National Sports Festival.
Interacting with them on lined up activities aimed to grow sports in the state beyond the sports festival he said: ” Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium and the facilities we need to use for the sports festival, immediately we finish the sports festival, we will give deadlines of between April/May next year when the 20 mini stadia should be ready for use.
That means Edo State should start a lot of sporting activities at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Beyond that, Academical Cup and Principal’s Cup would come up.
All other tournaments including inter local government sporting events would also be encouraged.That means every local government must be able to specialize in a minimum of three sports.
Major sports should be domiciled in the area they have comparative advantage. We need to check to see where we can get raw talent and take these facilities there.
The interaction with the coaches threw up important issues on management, having a sports calendar and modalities to ensure team spirit and adequate motivation of all to grow the industry of sports in Edo State.
