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The Nigeria Professional Wrestling Federation (NPWF) has honoured Eze Amb. Nicholas Emenike Njoku, Eze Ndigbo of Ejigbo LCDA, Lagos, with a National Award in recognition of his leadership, service and contributions to society.
Receiving the award, Eze Njoku thanked the federation for the honour, describing it as an encouragement to continue contributing to the development of society.
He said wrestling has the power to unite Nigerians across ethnic and cultural lines, noting that athletes from different parts of the country come together to represent Nigeria whenever they compete internationally.
“Nigeria is one; the only thing that divides us is politics,” he said.
Njoku urged stakeholders in the wrestling industry to shun tribalism and nepotism, stressing the need to recognise and honour individuals based on their contributions and achievements.
The award was also presented to the Onowu of Eze Ndigbo, Ejigbo LCDA, Amb. Engr. Richard Chukwuedozie, in recognition of his support and patronage of the organisation.
Njoku further encouraged the NPWF to intensify efforts to develop wrestling and engage young people with sporting talents. He said youths with physical abilities, including bodybuilders, should be given opportunities to channel their strength into productive sporting activities rather than hooliganism and other social vices.
NPWF President, John Onyebuchi Uche, used the occasion to call for greater government investment in professional wrestling and other professional sports.
Uche said Nigerian wrestlers possess the talent to compete successfully at continental and international levels but require stronger institutional support to reach their full potential.
He explained that the award recipients were selected because of their leadership qualities and commitment to supporting the less privileged and contributing positively to society.
However, he expressed concern that professional wrestling does not receive adequate attention within Nigeria’s sports development structure.
According to Uche, while amateur wrestling enjoys recognition within the national sports system, professional wrestling is largely left to private individuals and organisations.
He said the NPWF relies heavily on internally generated funds to train young wrestlers, organise programmes and expose promising athletes to competitions and tours.
Uche disclosed that he had personally invested in training young wrestlers across 21 local government areas in Anambra State, but stressed that government support was necessary to sustain and expand such initiatives.
“This is too heavy for us. We need the government to come in and train our youths. Instead of allowing them to use their strength and energy for hooliganism, we are ready to convert that energy into productive sporting activities for the benefit of Nigeria,” he said.
The NPWF president also pointed to Nigeria’s rich wrestling talent pool and called for increased investment in grassroots identification, training and development.
He disclosed plans to establish a ₦500 million secretariat in Abuja, which he said would serve as a major administrative and development centre for professional wrestling in Nigeria.
Uche appealed to the Federal Government, corporate organisations and other stakeholders to partner with the federation in discovering, training and promoting young wrestlers capable of representing Nigeria on the international stage.
The NPWF leadership maintained that Nigeria has enough talent to build a vibrant professional wrestling industry if athletes are provided with proper training, facilities and financial support.
The federation called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, private organisations and sporting bodies to create opportunities for young Nigerians and channel their talents towards productive ventures.
Founded in 1981 and based in Lagos, the NPWF promotes professional wrestling and sports entertainment in Nigeria. It operates separately from the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), which is responsible for amateur and Olympic-style wrestling.
The federation said it remains committed to discovering raw talent, developing young wrestlers and positioning Nigerian professional wrestling for greater recognition in Africa and around the world.
