My award will boost karate in Nigeria, Says Hajiya Saleh

Hajiya Zainab Saleh whose name is synonymous with the game of Karate has said her selection as one of the nominees for this year’s Sportsville Special Recognition Awards is a big boost for the development of the combat sport in Nigeria. For nine consecutive years, Hajiya Saleh has singlehandedly sponsored the Zainab International Female Open […]

Hajiya Zainab Saleh whose name is synonymous with the game of Karate has said her selection as one of the nominees for this year’s Sportsville Special Recognition Awards is a big boost for the development of the combat sport in Nigeria.

For nine consecutive years, Hajiya Saleh has singlehandedly sponsored the Zainab International Female Open Karate Championships that is now a household name in Africa,  and capping it up with Sportsville Special Recognition Award is said to be the icing on the cake.

“Honestly, I am thrilled by this recognition coming from a credible organisation like Sportsville. I thought I was just doing my best to uplift the sport, a kind of giving back to the society.

“I never knew people were taking interest in our little contributions to support young girls and women who want to make a future out of Karate.

“With this recognition coming as a pleasant surprise, I will continue to do what I have always done and more for as long as I can,” said the fourth Dan Black belter, World Judge, African Referee and member of the Karate Federation of Nigeria.

Hajiya Saleh and Mrs Hauwa Kulu-Akinyemi are the only two women nominated for this year’s award.

Other awardees in the Special Recognition Category of the SportsVille Special Recognition Awards which holds on Friday, March 1 at Eko Club in Surulere Lagos are the presidents of the Handball Federation, Scrabble & Cricket, among others.