Visibility of Kung Fu tops agenda for FCT association chairman
The Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Kung Fu Association, Mustapha Mubdiyu Adebayo, has reaffirmed his commitment to giving the sport more visibility across Abuja and beyond. Speaking with journalists in Abuja at the weekend, Adebayo, a professional town planner, said his administration’s top priority is to ensure Kung Fu gains recognition through grassroots […]
FCT
The Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Kung Fu Association, Mustapha Mubdiyu Adebayo, has reaffirmed his commitment to giving the sport more visibility across Abuja and beyond.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja at the weekend, Adebayo, a professional town planner, said his administration’s top priority is to ensure Kung Fu gains recognition through grassroots development, schools, and community engagement.
“If you ask many people about Kung Fu, they will tell you they don’t know it or have never seen it practiced. My vision is to change that. Visibility means involving more people, which is why we are reaching out to schools and the private sector,” he said.
Despite challenges such as inadequate training equipment and limited facilities, Adebayo believes the sport has already shown great potential. He recalled that during the last National Sports Festival, only four athletes represented the FCT in Kung Fu — and all returned with medals.
“If four athletes could win medals, imagine what would happen if we had more participants. That is why our focus is on the youth. The earlier young people get involved, the faster the sport will grow,” he noted.
To actualize this vision, the association is working with the FCT School Sports Committee to integrate Kung Fu into school competitions. The first-ever inter-school championship is scheduled for the first quarter of next year.
Adebayo also revealed that beyond institutional efforts, he has personally supported athletes, from catering for their welfare during the last festival to providing equipment ahead of the National Youth Games.
On concerns that martial arts may promote violence, he explained that Kung Fu does the opposite, emphasizing discipline, self-control, and confidence.
“The world is becoming more violent every day. Parents should see martial arts as giving children confidence and basic self-defence skills, not as a tool for violence,” he stressed.
He further called for private sector involvement in Kung Fu’s development, while urging strategic partnerships that will be mutually beneficial to both sponsors and the sport.
Looking ahead, Adebayo outlined short- and long-term targets for the association. While the immediate focus is grassroots participation and visibility, the ultimate goal is to see Nigeria compete strongly on the continental and global stage, including the Olympics.