Lagos Set For MOB National Unity Taekwondo Championship holding September 18-20

All is now set for the maiden edition of the Michael Opeyemi Bamidele ( MOB ) National Unity Taekwondo Championship holding from 18-20 September 2026, at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium Surulere Lagos.

The tournament to be Sponsored by a former Commissioner for Sports and ex- Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State, Opeyemi Bamidele is Centered on Team events in Poomse and Kyuorugi ( Sparing ).

The championship has mouth watering cash prizes ranging from #500,000, #300,000 and #200,000 set aside for the Gold, Silver and Bronze medalists ( 1st, 2nd and 3rd ) winners in the senior categories events.

Bamidele, who is unarguably a distinguished current serving Senate leader, sees sports as an instrument of unity among the stakeholders, hence his sponsorship of this maiden Taekwondo Championship.

He is also known as a man that is in the forefront of encouraging youth development in the country through his consistent sponsorship of other sporting events in the past.

Expressing her delight over the competition, President of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federations ( NTF), Tayo Kubrat Popoola, said it is actually good for stakeholders to be complementing government efforts in sports development through sponsorship like this.

“We are indeed happy about this championship which is happening at such time like this.

“We are actually working towards the Africa Games and the Loss Angeles Olympic Games”.

Besides, we have already set a standard in the continent as one of the countries to be reckoned with in Africa based on Nigeria’s good outing and performance which was accounted for the country’s podium finish at the last Continental Championship in Bamako, Mali, where Nigeria won 7 medals comprising 3 Gold, 1 Silver and 3 bronze medals.

“So, having been there now, our duty and target is to be up there. We
cannot at this point lower our standard .

“Lowering standard is never part of my mission as the President of Nigeria Taekwondo Federation.
Our goal is to make sure Nigeria is up there by conquering Africa through step by step movement before taking the world by storm”

“Many did not see our performance in Mali coming, but we did it.
For the first time Nigeria surpassed 2 gold medals in Continental Championships for a very long time.

“As we broke that long existing jinx, so shall it continue to be, until we dismantle all the road blocks hindering our progress”.

“This is the maiden edition of the MOB Taekwondo competition and we are happy for it and hopefully it’s not going to be the last.

“The stake is really high at this point and expectation very huge as well with the players looking forward to an awesome championship.”

Popoola informed that the competition will provide the Federation a good opportunity to access the athletes progress to know those that are good and qualified to represent the country in future Continental and global competitions”, .

Tagged “Tournament of Unity”, the Michael Opeyemi Bamidele ( MOB ), championship, is open to all states, clubs and schools in the country.

And the standing rule, permits each team to present 5 players ( athletes ) in each team event, while participating states, clubs and schools are free to register as many Taekwondo players as possible provided they were officially registered to feature in the 3-day competition, Popoola added.

It would be recalled that Nigeria featured at the team event of the last Continental taekwondo championship in Mali for the first time and the success story that followed gave birth to this maiden MOB Taekwondo team Championship.