The Chika Chukwumerije Sports Foundation (CCSF), in collaboration with the French Embassy in Nigeria and the French Institute, recently held a captivating one-day workshop at Springhall British School in Abuja.
The event aimed to inspire and educate young participants about the Olympics, self-defense, and taekwondo.
The workshop, which had 90 participants, was divided into two segments. In the first part, 40 secondary school girls learned about self-defense, focusing on environmental awareness, techniques, and the legal aspects of self-defense. Olympic medalist Chika Chukwumerije supervised the practice session, which included defense against face attacks and strategies for reacting when held against their will.
The second segment featured 50 primary school children who were introduced to the Olympics and taekwondo through inspirational stories. They learned about the Olympic motto, creed, flag, cycles, and various sports, as well as life lessons from Olympians like Simone Biles, Eric Moussambani, Dick Fosbury, and Nigeria’s own Chika Chukwumerije. The children were also taught taekwondo etiquette, rules, equipment, and scoring procedures.
Magaly Losange, Attaché to the French Embassy in Nigeria, praised the program’s impact on the participants and observers. “It was wonderful. I learnt a lot. It was exciting to see the kids so happy and engaged. We hope they will be inspired and more interested in the pleasure of doing sports,” she said.
Losange explained the program’s inception: “We asked various sportsmen and women to create a program celebrating Olympic values and educating kids. Mr. Chukwumerije’s proposal impressed us with its credentials and its ability to help kids understand Olympic history and learn about taekwondo.”
Chukwumerije expressed his enthusiasm for the program: “I accepted to do this program because I know it will add educational value and inspire young people. Seeing the kids’ eyes light up as we discussed Olympians’ challenges and triumphs made me very happy. If anyone asks them about the Olympics and taekwondo, they will give knowledgeable answers.”
Chukwumerije also emphasized the importance of self-defense training for females: “Ignorance leads to a lot of pain. There are many simple things females should know to prevent being assaulted and bullied.”
The workshop concluded with participants eagerly seeking pictures and autographs, marking the successful completion of the program.