The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Wushu and Kungfu Association staged a one-day training exercise for kids in Abuja yesterday to teach them the rudiments of the martial art.
Over 100 kids from four to 13 years who participated in the exercise were drawn from five schools in the FCT.
Instructors from the association taught the kids the basics of Wushu and Kungfu as well as how to be a leader.
Speaking to Fever Pitch after the training exercise, Chairman of the Association, Dr. Mykel Eneduwa said “it is a leadership programme for children, using Wushu martial art as an instrument to teach them how to become leaders of tomorrow.”
He said the training is in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria and the grassroots unit of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The Cultural Councellor of the Chinese Embassy in Abuja, Li Xuda, said martial arts is important for thr children’s growth, adding that “it teaches mutual respect and the need to protect the weak, responsibility, teamwork and others.”
Speaking, the Director of Grsassroots Sports development at the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, Dr. Ademola Are said it was important to encourage the kids to get into sports at the early years of their life.
“Most importantly at this level, they are being exposed to sports so that they can imbibe that spirit of sportsmanship in everything they do”, he added.
