Sports Minister gets MIxed Martial Arts President’s praise

By Ifeanyi Eduzor

President of Nigeria Mixed Martial Arts Federation, Henry George has commended the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare for giving the Federation an opportunity to participate at the Asaba 2022 National Sports Festival as a demonstration sports.
Nigerian Mixed Martial Arts Federation (NMMAF) demonstrated the sport as part of tbe festival on December 1 in Asaba and another one at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos on December 8
The demonstration presents the sport as both a recreational and competitive youth engagement platform in front of national and state leaders, highlighting the safety of the sport.
NMMAF is striving to get the sport recognised by the government and their presentation of the sport at the National Sports Festival and at Onikan Stadium, Lagos is a significant step in this direction and President of the Federation, Henry George says he is optimistic the sports will do well in the country
“The demonstration is to show the technique of the sport and how save it is. We want mixed martial arts to be a scoring event which can only come through the authentication of the Sports Ministry through demonstrations like this ” he said
Technical Director of the Federation, victor Akhimien said the acceptability of the sport in the country has been encouraging as it organises seminars and workshop to train and update both athletes and coaches on the present rules and techniques of the game.
In his own remarks, Director Youth Development, Nigeria Mixed Martial Arts Ebere Benard blamed
Poor infrastructure and patronage as some of the reasons why the sports is not popular but assured that plans are on to organize competitions weekly to help popularize the sport in the country.
President, international Mixed Martial Arts Federation, (IMMAF ) Kerrith Brown was in Nigeria to attend the event where he promised the world body’s support towards the growth of the Sports in the country
Following the event, Brown, joined by President Nigeria Mixed Martial Arts Federation, Henry George and Vice-President Mario Wanny, met with the Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare to discuss the recognition of the sport in Nigeria.