Coach Olaniyi Boluwatife Emanuel, the dedicated head coach of the Voltaj Heritage School Taekwondo team, is placing youth development at the heart of martial arts, as his team participates in the 2025 U-17 LFLP National Taekwondo Championship in Lagos.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Sports247.ng at the event held on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at the French International Basketball Court, Victoria Island, Lagos.
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Coach Olaniyi underscored that while winning is part of the goal, the greater mission is nurturing the all-round growth of young athletes.
“Yes, we’ve prepared the kids to win,” he said. “But it’s not just about medals. It’s about exposing them to their peers in a competitive setting to help bring out their best physically, mentally, and emotionally.”
Coach Olaniyi emphasizes that competitions like this do more than build athletic skill , they instill confidence and help children break out of their shells.
“Some of them are shy and don’t talk much,” he explained. “But when they come to events like this, they mingle, they connect and that social exposure builds confidence and strength.”
A former Taekwondo athlete himself, Coach Olaniyi brings personal experience to his coaching. As a student at the Federal University of Agriculture, he served as both team captain and student-coach, leading his squad to a bronze medal at the Nigerian University Games (NUGA).
He also competed in major events such as the Korea Battalion Cup and the Edo State Heritage Festival. However, financial difficulties eventually halted his athletic career.
This struggle became his motivation to give back. Determined to create better opportunities for the next generation, Coach Olaniyi began training children — laying a foundation he hopes will take them further than he was able to go.
He also expressed gratitude for the growing support from parents, noting how increased awareness around personal safety and self-confidence — especially for girls — is shifting perspectives.
“With issues like rape and kidnapping, parents now see the importance of training their children,” he said. “Taekwondo doesn’t just teach self-defense; it builds character and courage, particularly in female students.”
Coach Olaniyi stressed that the values of Taekwondo, which includes discipline, perseverance, and resilience, extend far beyond the mat.
“When you push yourself for a medal, it teaches you life lessons. That same effort reflects in academics and in personal growth. You learn to never give up.”
Looking ahead, Coach Olaniyi is optimistic about the future of Nigerian Taekwondo.
With many of his students already earning blue and red belts in primary school, a much earlier start than his own university introduction to the sport. He sees a strong wave of talent on the horizon.
“Right now, we have only Elizabeth Ayanacho representing Nigeria at the Olympics,” he noted. “But in the next two to four years, I believe we’ll see four or five athletes on that stage — representing Nigerian Taekwondo with pride and excellence.”
With passionate mentors like Coach Olaniyi leading the charge, the future of Nigerian Taekwondo is not only promising — it’s transformative.
