Group to Chukwumerije in Abuja

Impressed by Chika Chukwumerije’s feat at the recently concluded Olympic Games in China, a group of friends will on Saturday honour the young Chukwumerije at a grand reception organized by the group chaired by Senator Ben Obi.

It would be recalled that the 24-year-old Mechanical Engineering graduate of Federal University of Technology (FUTO), Owerri, became the first Nigerian to win an Olympic medal in taekwondo event after clinching bronze medal at the last Beijing Olympic Games in China.

The reception put together by a 17-man committee tagged Chika Chukwumerije Reception Committee will use the event to appreciate the modest performance of Nigeria in the taekwondo event at the global championship.

Speaking on the essence of the event, Senator Obi said: We want to use the event to appreciate Nigeria’s modest performance in Beijing, especially in taekwondo. Also to hold up this achievement as a message to our youths that pursuit of excellence in sports, academics and good citizenship can simultaneously be undertaken.”

He however, said that youths should take a cue from Chukwumerije’s feat in Beijing.

“You don’t need to be a drop-out in school to be sports star. Academic excellence, success in sports and sound moral development can be simultaneously achieved to the maximum advantage of one another.

Chika, a graduate of mechanical engineer, is moving ahead for his Masters Degree alongside with preparations for the next World Taekwondo championship and Olympic Games.”

The reception will hold at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, with dignitaries drawn from across the country.

Among the committee members is Dr. Eddie Iroh, former Director General of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).

Chukwumerije made his second appearance at the world event and contribute to Nigeria’s medal haul in Beijing, where he competed in the men's +80kg taekwondo event, and defeated Vietnam's Nguyen Van Hung in the preliminary rounds.

He went on to beat World Champion, Mali's Daba Modibo Keïta in the quarterfinals, but due to technical error, he lost to Greece's Alexandros Nikolaidis in the semi-final, the eventual silver medal winner in the event. Chika then defeated Akmal Irgashev of Uzbekistan to claim bronze medal.