Oshodi Tasks Nigerian Judokas In Message To Celebrate World Judo Day

Nigerian judokas were not left out on Thursday as the global judo family marked World Judo Day.

World Judo Day was launched in 2010 by the International Judo Federation to commemorate the birthday of Prof. Jigoro Kano.

President of the Nigeria Judo Federation, NJF, Dr Musa Oshodi in his message to mark the day appealed to stakeholders to do more for judo, insisting that no sacrifice was too much for all to contribute to Nigeria judo to a greater height.

Below is the President’s message:

World Judo Day Message from the President of the Nigeria Judo Federation, NJF, Dr. Musa Oshodi on Thursday, October 28, 2021

It gives me great pleasure on this special occasion of World Judo Day, to send this message to all members of the judo family and all lovers and supporters of judo in Nigeria.

The World Judo Day was launched by the International Judo Federation (IJF) in 2010 to mark the posthumous birthday of the founder of the most desirous martial art in the world, judo, Professor Jigoro Kano who was born in 1860 at Shitaya in Tokyo, Japan.

While it’s a day of celebration, we should, as members of the Judo family, show some sober reflections and ask ourselves if we have done our best to promote the lofty ideas and ideals encapsulated in the ethics and values of our noble sport?

You and I will agree that whatever is our answer to the above we can do better by renewing our vows today to be faithful disciples and ambassadors of our art which is not just a sport but a way of life.

In our various roles, as athletes, coaches, technical personnel, administrators, we should conduct ourselves in a manner that would give attention and respect to our sport and make it appealing to sympathisers and uninitiated.

The theme of this year’s celebration is “Solidarity”, so there is no better time for us all to accept it to be our guiding principle.

There is no better time than now to come together to wrestle to a standstill in the bane of judo development in Nigeria. 

It seems to be more radical than the Covid 19 pandemic and the national insecurity. 

We must be united to start the onerous task of rebuilding it. 

It is my belief that if we work together as one family, we will triumph over the challenges of the day and restore the golden era of Nigeria Judo.

As a responsible and responsive board, the new administration under my watch has strongly noted and studied the bane of our growth and has come up with plans to make every member of the family proud. 

Our quest to regain our step at the international scene involves all of us and no sacrifice is too much to be made by all and sundry.

To pave way for an outstanding outing in the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Birmingham next year, the board has resolved among other things to organise a trial competition in February to open the gates for a desirous camping exercise which will come up immediately after the trial.

I will like to close this message by appealing to us all to be on guard against the world number one enemy today, the Covid 19 pandemic.

Kindly continuously observe all the pandemic protocols and get vaccinated against the disease if you have not done so.

I wish you all a happy celebration and please play safe.

May I say finally that there is a fabulous prize for the most outstanding state as we celebrate the day.