NWF begins grassroots campaign, conducts weightlifting demonstration in Schools

Posted : 20 February 2025

In its bid to expand the scope of weightlifting in Nigeria and discover future champions, the Weightlifting Federation of Nigeria (NWF) has begun a grassroots development program aimed at discovering and nurturing future champions for the sport.

Consequently, the federation recently carried out a demonstration show in Abuja.

The demonstration, which took place at the Lead British International School Gwarinpa, in the Federal Capital Territory, introduced students to the game of weightlifting.

Speaking shortly after the demonstration, President of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), Dr. Abdul Ibrahim, said the essence of the demonstration, which took place during the school’s inter-house competition, was to encourage the children to take up weightlifting as a career.

Dr. Abdul noted that discovering children with talents for weightlifting is critical so that, when nurtured, they will take over from the aging athletes. He described the enthusiasm shown by the students and teachers as commendable, adding that the federation will consolidate the program and will soon embark on a tour of Nigerian schools across the country.

"We are looking at catching them young, and there is no better place to do that than in schools, especially when the children are still young, so that we can begin to build from there.

“We have introduced the sport to schools; this is just the beginning, and it will continue in other schools. Our plan is to tour most schools in the country to introduce weightlifting to the children and even teachers.

“Weightlifting is one of Nigeria’s key sports, and it takes you to heights that you can never imagine.

“We have current and past weightlifters who have made the country proud. Athletes like Lawal Rufiat and Umofia Edidiong are flying the country’s flag globally and have won laurels as well.

“Right now, we are thinking about how the children can go global through weightlifting. Weightlifting has been so wonderful, and I think parents, pupils, and teachers have a lot to learn from it.

“In the future, many of them would like to be part of weightlifting in Nigeria, and that is why it is critical to introduce them to the sport at a young age,” he said.

NWF begins grassroots campaign, conducts weightlifting demonstration in Schools

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