World Taekwondo Honours Two Nigerian Grand Masters
The global governing body for taekwondo has elevated two Nigerian veterans to the rare rank of 7th Dan black belt. Grand Master Sunday Koffi Akani and Grand Master Dominic Asuquo Bassey received the honours from the World Taekwondo Jidokwan Federation on Saturday. The decorations took place during the national open trials at the Alake Sports Centre in Abeokuta. This formal recognition rewards more than half a century of local training and administration. It also signals global approval of Nigeria’s internal martial arts coaching standards.
The ceremony followed a gruelling official grading test supervised by international inspectors. Grand Master Kim Lee, who leads the World Taekwondo Masters Union, travelled to Ogun State to present the certificates. He praised the pair for building the foundation of the sport in West Africa since the 1970s. Achieving a 7th Dan requires decades of unbroken teaching rather than simple physical agility. The federation uses these rare titles to maintain its global hierarchy and command structure. It is a closed world where loyalty matters.
Akani wept openly as he took his certificate from the international delegation. The 54-year veteran still coaches students at the wealthy Ikoyi Club in Lagos. He noted that Nigerian sports administrators routinely ignore pioneers until they die. Receiving a global honour while still active represents a rare exception in the local sports ecosystem. His emotional reaction exposed a deep undercurrent of neglect that many veteran coaches face across Nigeria. Local federations rarely have the cash to reward their pioneers.
The aging master used his moment at the microphone to lecture the young athletes in attendance. He warned the current generation of fighters against chasing quick financial payouts. Hard work and patience offer the only reliable path to international sporting success. His lecture reflects a widening cultural gap within Nigerian combat sports. Young fighters today often demand immediate financial sponsorships or switch to mixed martial arts for fast cash. The old guard prefers a slower, more stoic approach.
The national open trials will continue through the weekend to select a new squad for continental tournaments. Nigeria Taekwondo Federation president Tayo Popoola hopes the presence of the veterans will inspire the raw recruits. The sport has struggled for state funding since the country missed out on Olympic podiums. Popoola is using the visit of international delegates to lobby for better technical equipment. Global recognition looks good on paper, but local gyms still need basic mats and electronic scoring gear.