The President of the Nigeria Arm Wrestling Federation, Mr. Samuel Jackson, has declared the federation’s full readiness for the upcoming demonstration of Arm Wrestling at the 2024 National Sports Festival tagged Gateway Games, OGUN 2025.
Arm Wrestling will make its historic debut at the National Sports Festival, with its events scheduled for May 24, May 25 and 26, 2025, at the Alake Sports Centre in Abeokuta.
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Though included as a demonstration sport, the development marks a significant milestone for the Arm Wrestling community in Nigeria.
In an exclusive chat with Sports247 Jackson described the moment as a dream come true for athletes and stakeholders within the sport.
“Man, it’s one of the best days being a sportsman and being a president of a federation.
I want to say thank you to the Nigeria Sports Commission,” Jackson stated.
He expressed appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Sports and the Ogun State Government for the opportunity to showcase the sport on such a prestigious platform.
“It is the dream of every sports person to feature in the National Sports Festival. Being part of the Gateway Games is one of the hallmarks of our growth over the years as a Federation.
This moment is not just symbolic; it is history in the making,” he added.
With prior experience at the All-African Games, National Open Championships, and the World Championships, Jackson assured that the federation is bringing its wealth of exposure and technical expertise into this debut showcase.
“All this experience will come handy in our own Nigerian Olympics. We are proud and excited to be part of this,” he said.
Calling on supporters and fans of the sport, Jackson invited all arm wrestlers and enthusiasts to attend the event and witness firsthand the passion and power of Arm Wrestling.
“We are happy that our athletes can now be counted as part of the Nigeria Sports Festival family.
We urge everyone to come to the Alake Sports Centre on the 24th, 25th and 26th of May to witness what Arm Wrestling is all about — they will not be disappointed.”
Speaking on the future of Arm Wrestling within the National Sports Festival, Jackson expressed optimism that the sport will soon transition from a demonstration event to a medal-ranking discipline.
“By God’s grace, with what we achieved at the All-African Games last year and the continued support from the Sports Commission, we believe that by the next festival, we should move from demonstration to medal status.”
The introduction of Arm Wrestling at the festival signals a broader inclusion initiative within Nigerian sports, giving lesser-publicized sports a platform to thrive.
All eyes now turn to Abeokuta for what promises to be a groundbreaking display of strength, skill, and sportsmanship.
