Beyond the Mat: How Atula Wrestling Championship Is Steering Kogi Youths Away from Crime

By Dada Ahmed.

On December 26, 2025, the Boxing Day, the Confluence Stadium, located on General Usman Katsina in Lokoja, came alive with gripping contests of strength and skill as the maiden Morris Atula End-of-the-Year Wrestling Championship took centre stage.

More than a sporting event, the championship,with large number of sports lovers,emerged as a deliberate response to rising social vices among youths and a bold attempt to revive the fading wrestling tradition in Kogi State.

Organised as a one-day competition to fit into the festive season, the championship attracted over 40 wrestlers from different parts of the state. The gathering transformed the arena into a platform where competition, celebration and social reorientation converged, offering young athletes an alternative to the growing temptations of the streets.

According to the organisers, the championship was conceived against the backdrop of increasing involvement of youths in crime violence.

They stressed that many of these crimes are perpetrated by young people whose energy and talents remain untapped, misdirected or ignored.

The philosophy behind the championship, organisers further explained, is rooted in the belief that sports can redirect youthful energy towards positive pursuits. By engaging teenagers and young adults in wrestling, the initiative seeks to make the youth rethink destructive choices and instead embrace discipline, hard work and purpose.

The event was self-sponsored but it enjoyed the full backing of the family of Ologunja Ojo John, Head Coach of the Wrestling Association with technical and moral support from the Confluence Wrestlers’ Association in conjunction with the Kogi State Wrestling Association. Central to the vision was the encouragement of the association’s chairman, Morris Atula, whose passion for youth development inspired the championship.

Despite having no age limit, the competition was carefully structured into two categories to ensure inclusiveness and fairness. The junior category featured male and female wrestlers in the 36kg to 42kg weight classes, while the senior category comprised 55–65kg and 65–75kg divisions for both genders.

From the opening bouts to the final contests, participants thrilled spectators with displays of strength, agility, technique and discipline. The competitive spirit remained healthy throughout, reinforcing the organisers’ message that wrestling builds character as much as it builds physical strength.

At the end of the championship, every wrestler went home with a commemorative T-shirt, while winners and dignitaries received certificates of participation.

Gold medals were presented to champions, alongside special medals for partners and stakeholders who supported sports development, underscoring the inclusive spirit of the event.

One of the most significant outcomes of the championship was talent hunt and discovery. Six wrestlers:Abdul Akim Akowe, Peculiar Adedapo, Peniel Adedapo, Ayodele, Ayomide Ajozie and Ojogun Martin, stood out with exceptional performances, winning medals for the first time and announcing themselves as prospects for the future and set for grooming and higher heights in wrestling.

Organisers revealed that the long-term vision of the Morris Atula End-of-the-Year Wrestling Championship extends far beyond an annual event. They said that the initiative aims to groom talents for upcoming youth and senior National Sports Festivals, attract sponsorship, and integrate outstanding athletes into national wrestling teams at various levels.

The organizers also disclosed that plans are underway to establish international linkages that could expose Kogi wrestlers to European clubs, while advocating for government intervention to provide basic equipment such as wrestling mats. Lack of standard equipment, officials warned, is one of the major factors threatening the survival of wrestling in the state.

Describing the championship as timely, the Head Coach of wrestling in the state,Ologunja Ojo John,noted that wrestling, once a vibrant sport in Kogi State, has suffered neglect due to poor facilities and limited exposure. As the curtains fell on the maiden edition, one message resonated clearly,that the Morris Atula End-of-the-Year Wrestling Championship is more than a competition.

Many sports enthusiasts that witnessed the event described it as a potential social investment, adding that,if sustained with support from public and private sector, it would go along way as a viable sport to restore hope, build discipline and chart a safer future for Kogi’s youths.