President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Adeniyi Adewale, has revealed that the federation’s decision to set up new sub-committees is aimed at strengthening grassroots wrestling development across Nigeria.
Speaking on the federation’s direction, Adewale explained that the move reflects a deliberate effort to deepen impact at the zonal and community levels, rather than focusing solely on elite and international competitions.
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According to Adewale, the board is determined to build a sustainable structure that allows talents to be identified, nurtured and developed from the grassroots before progressing to the national stage.
“The creation of these sub-committees is to help us reflect deeply and put policies in place that will drive wrestling development from the grassroots,” Adewale said.
He stressed that the federation’s vision goes beyond chasing medals at major tournaments, adding that true progress lies in ensuring that every region of the country benefits from structured wrestling programmes.
“Our ambition is not just to challenge for honours at the elite level, but to ensure that wrestling is developed from the grassroots in all zones of the country,” he added.
Adewale noted that many regions possess raw talent that often goes unnoticed due to lack of organisation and support, a gap the federation now intends to address.
“There is talent everywhere. What has been missing is a coordinated system to identify and nurture that talent,” he explained.
The federation president also highlighted the importance of long-term planning, insisting that sustainable success can only be achieved through consistent grassroots investment.
“When you build from the grassroots, the results at the top will follow naturally,” he said.
Adewale expressed optimism that the new structure would create a stronger pipeline of wrestlers capable of representing Nigeria at continental and global competitions in the future.
“This is about building a solid foundation for Nigerian wrestling, not just for today, but for years to come,” he concluded.
With the new sub-committees now in place, the Nigeria Wrestling Federation appears set on a development-driven approach aimed at ensuring that wrestling reaches more communities and produces the next generation of national champions.
