Mobility Arts, Giving Succour to Kids through Sports
Suki Playing Ground in FESTAC Town last weekend witnessed an unprecedented crowd as parents and fans of martial arts gathered to watch the best of karate and taekwondo as Mobility Arts host kids aged five and 12.
Kunle Adewale was there As early as 8 am, parents, fans and kids began trooping to Suki Playing Ground, in FESTAC Town, venue of the Clash of Gladiators, a martial art competition.
In spite of the fact that 20 more than the registered participants turned up for the competition, (75 registered participants and 92 turned up) they were all taken care of.
To give the event an international outlook, Mobility Arts ensured that the carpets provided were of international standard. An ambulance was also on hand in case of any eventuality.
Sponsor of event and Chief Executive Officer of Mobility Arts Nigeria Limited, George Ager, said organising the competition was in conformity with Nigerian Communications Commission’s mandate on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to all licensed mobile service outfits.
“The choice of martial arts as our CSR was in an attempt to revive a sport that had been long forgotten and abandoned but which the practitioners are still very much around and the only way the martial arts can be brought back to life was by encouraging its involvement. That is why everything we put in place for the competition is in conformity with the international standard,” Ager said.
Mobility Arts is a mobile value added services company that provides service solution to mobile operators.
“As a Nigerian Communications Commission licensee, we are mandated to take up a social responsibility in the community we are operating. Though our services are used nationwide, our immediate locality is in Amuwo Odofin, which is why we are choosing this community to kick-start our CSR.
“The choice of the sport for the kids was to encourage the young people from the elementary level and to inculcate this kind of sport into their everyday discipline. Martial arts is not just a sport, it is an act holistically. It involves how you shape your behaviour, your conduct in the public and how you project yourself to the society,” the sponsor highlighted.
Satisfied with the success of the maiden edition of the Clash of Gladiators, Ager promised to make the next edition bigger and hope to add volleyball, another sport which he felt had also suffered neglect. For martial art instructor, Austin Jooda, the choice of martial art by the mobile servicing firm was a welcome development because it also benefits the children in their studies. It helps them to be focused.
“Testimonies are bound from parents of the tremendous impact the game has had on children,” the fifth degree black belt holder said. At the end of hostilities, Jodan Prolific Martial Arts Academy was top with eight gold medals, Moral Ville Academy, Amuwo Odofin came second with six gold medals and St. Jude School Taekwondo Club came third with four gold medals.
It came as no surprise however that George Ager jr, son of the sponsor, who recorded the quickest knockout of the afternoon and was adjudged the best fighter of the event, while her sister, Stephanie Ager of Jodan Prolific Martial Arts Academy was third. Daniel Abhulimen of Early Spring Montessori came second.