By Onunwor Kay
The World Martial Arts Council (WMAC), Nigeria, has bestowed the prestigious ‘Power of Sports for Peace’ award on Dr. Chukwudi Dimkpa, in recognition of his dedication to youth empowerment and contributions to promoting peace through combat sports in the country.
Presenting the award to him in Port Harcourt recently, the International representative of the Council, Chief (Amb). Henry George, in his remarks, said the award was in recognition of Dimkpa’s consistency in championing initiatives aimed at uplifting youths and fostering social development in Nigeria.
George also noted that the awardee’s commitment to using sports as a vehicle for positive change was exemplified by his sponsorship of the annual Strata Base National Open Karate Championship, held in Port Harcourt last month and the Strata Base Cadet/U14 Karate Championship to hold in Port Harcourt , August , 2025.
These events he pointed out, brought together athletes from over 23 states and clubs across Nigeria.
According to him, the platform enabled athletes not only to show exceptional martial arts talent but also engaged young people constructively, steering them away from social vices and towards discipline, focus, and personal growth.
The WMAC award recipient who is a Fellow of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (FNSE) amongst others, reiterated that his involvement across various sports stermed from his firm belief in the power to unite communities, promote peace, and drive societal progress.
Dimkpa, who went memory lane, called on the youth not to relent in their efforts towards the pursuit of their goals.
He was of the view that personal achievements in life override any other achievement, thus the need to push harder for ones upliftment.
“Receiving the Power of Sports for Peace Award is a testament that sports can be a powerful catalyst for peace, empowerment, and positive societal transformation”, he said.
Meanwhile, he has lauded the Council for what he described as a rear privilege and promised to do more both in sports development and youth empowerment.
The event took place in Port Harcourt on Monday, April 28, 2025.
