In a major win for Nigeria’s growing influence in continental sports leadership, Hon. Silas Agara, President of the Karate Federation of Nigeria (KFN), has been elected as the 4th Vice President of the African Karate Federation (UFAK).
Agara’s victory came at the UFAK General Assembly held in Abuja, where he defeated Congo’s Freddy Kombo with a resounding 20-11 vote margin. The assembly, which drew karate delegates from across Africa, also had in attendance the President of the World Karate Federation (WKF), Antonio Espinós — further underlining the significance of the occasion.
This development not only solidifies Agara’s standing as a key figure in African karate governance but also places Nigeria at the heart of strategic conversations around the sport’s future on the continent.
Reacting to his election, Agara attributed his win to the progress Nigeria has made under his leadership. “One’s record should speak for itself,” he said. “What you have accomplished should be your ticket to office. I simply presented what we’ve achieved in Nigeria and allowed the delegates to decide based on that.”
He also dedicated the victory to Nigeria and the broader West African region, promising to collaborate with the Nigeria Sports Commission and other stakeholders to grow grassroots karate initiatives and align them with national development objectives.
Agara’s emergence as a continental leader is expected to further energize karate development in Nigeria and inspire increased investment and participation in martial arts across the sub-region.
