Nigeria Pro Wrestling Federation (NPWF) Marks 44th Anniversary in Grand Style with Prof. Charles Soludo International Pro Wrestling Championship & Power Mike Memorial Championship of Honour in Anambra
AWKA, ANAMBRA STATE - The Nigeria Pro Wrestling Federation (NPWF) has officially announced its 44th Anniversary celebration, set to hold from 26th to 28th September 2025 at Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, Anambra State. The historic occasion was unveiled during a high-profile press conference addressed by the National President of the Federation, Chief John Onyebuchi Uche, alongside top officials and wrestling legends.
This anniversary comes with a double celebration: the Prof. Charles Soludo International Pro Wrestling Championship and the Power Mike Memorial Championship of Honour, aimed at reviving Nigeria's legacy in professional wrestling and honouring the late legendary first World heavyweight pro wrestling champion, Chief Michael Okpala (Power Mike of Africa), an illustrious son of Anambra.
Addressing the press, Chief John Uche declared:
“The 44th Year Anniversary is to announce the revival and arrival of professional wrestling in Nigeria. Wrestling was once the pride of Nigerian sports and it's time to bring it back. We are honouring Power Mike – a global icon from Anambra – with a Golden Trophy in his name, and we are using this event to showcase Nigeria’s return to the international wrestling stage.”
Also in attendance were:
Olusesan Olukoya, Secretary-General, Pro Wrestling Africa (PWA)
Engr. Chinedu Akata, Chairman, NPWF Anambra State Chapter
MC Odua, Secretary, NPWF Anambra Chapter
Fidelis Kene Chiekezie, Director of Communication, NPWF
Emeka Obidimma, Director of Sports Technical, Anambra Sports Development Commission
A stellar lineup of professional wrestlers who attended the conference, including Executioner, Black Tiger, Sajoman, Captain Dunga, Ikenga Red Dragon, Blessings Kesha, Rasman Iron, Great Unbeatable Akidi, and Stylish J (Joy Nwafor) were present to show solidarity and excitement ahead of the championships.
The president, Chief John also went further to unveil: Mentorship Programme and Youth Empowerment Initiative
In a bold step towards youth development, the NPWF also announced a nationwide mentorship programme aimed at tackling youth restiveness and crime through sports. The initiative will train 100 youths from each of Nigeria’s 36 states, with the pilot phase beginning in Anambra on 26th September 2025. Two international wrestling trainers from the United Kingdom will join local coaches to mentor participants.
“We aim to train and transform over 3 million Nigerian youths into responsible and skilled individuals through sports. This initiative will support the government’s efforts to rehabilitate and empower our youth,” Chief Uche emphasized.
The NPWF calls on stakeholders, sponsors, and patriotic Nigerians to support this grand vision of national transformation through sports.
For media inquiries, partnership, or sponsorship: Contact:
Chiekezie Kene Fidelis
Director of Communication
Nigeria Pro Wrestling Federation (NPWF)
08133989148
Copy of the Full Speech Below:
SPEECH DELIVERED BY CHIEF JOHN O. UCHE, PRESIDENT, NIGERIA
PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING FEDERATION
(NPWF)
AT THE PRESS
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING IN BRIEFING TODAY, WEDNESDAY, 6TH AUGUST, 2025, ON THE 44 YEAR NIGERIA, TAKING PLACE ON 26TH, 27TH AND 28TH SEPTEMBER, 2025 IN
AWKA ANAMBRA STATE.
Gentlemen of the Press,
All Protocol duly Observe.
It is my pleasure to welcome you all to this short but very necessary Press briefing today being Wednesday 6th August, 2025 to inform you of our preparation to shake Anambra State with scintillating Wrestling display which we believe will attract large crowd and personalities from across the country.
The 44th Year Anniversary Celebration being organized by Nigeria Professional Wrestling Federation (NPWF) is to announce the revival and arrival of Professional Wrestling Championship again in Nigeria.
Professional Wrestling was the first sport to be well accepted in Nigeria to the extent that it was enjoyed and it reached the limelight before it went into extinction due to bad management and Government neglect, on the side of Professional Sports. Now we are back again to shake the world come 26th, 27th and 28th September, 2025 at Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square Awka.
Nigeria Professional Wrestling Federation chose Anambra State for her 44th Year Anniversary to commemorate and immortalize the world first heavy weight wrestling champion in Africa in the person of Late Chief Mike Okpala with the ring name (Power Mike of Africa), who hails from Ne-ni in Anaocha LGA of Anambra State and a Golden Trophy has been donated by me Chief John O. Uche to immortalize the great Wrestler.
MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME AND RESTIVE YOUTHS DEVELOPMENT
SKILL ACQUISITION THROUGH SPORTS TRAINING
We introduced mentorship programme as a grass root sports and as our contribution for fight against youths restiveness and crime in the country, the security challenges arising from our youths is a major concern to tackle by every reasonable group in the country. Our target is to get train at least 100 youths from each of the 36 States of the Federation and at the end of six months training and mentorship, we would have succeeded in impacting the lives of more than three million Nigerian youths who will become useful and responsible to themselves, the society and nation.
A continuation of this would aid or assist the Government of changing ungovernable citizens to Governable. This will immensely help in reducing crime and restiveness in our system. The mentorship starts from Anambra State on 26th September, 2025, as a mark of honour to Late Chief Mike Okpala (Power Mike of Africa), and two foreign trainers are coming from UK to kick start the mentorship with our local
coaches.
Thank you.
Source: ThrowbackTimes.com.ng
