One time Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIAL); Prof. Epiphany Azinge and some other well placed Nigerians have commended a former Deputy Comptroller General (DCG) of Immigration Service, Dr. Brasca Ifeadi for taking out time to write a book on Shotokan Karate.
Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja in his capacity as Chairman at the public presentation of the Second Edition of the book authored by Ifeadi, the former NIAL boss; noted that about four years ago, the former Immigration chieftain had launched the First Edition of the book titled: “A Handbook On Shotokan Karate: Elucidating Karate Myths, Fallacies And Truisms.”
He pointed out that Sir Ifeadi who is currently the National President of the Shotokan Karate International Nigeria (SKI-N) had engaged in an undertaking that showed how prolific, viral, magnetic and erudite the mind of a man could be.
“But beyond just ordinary writing, it is also important for us to underscore the fact that he is not just writing on anything but writing in an area that he had impacted so much that he is now the President of that organization.”
Azinge, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) noted that “exercise is considered very very important and veritably so, in the life of any man and for him to have veered into that area of Karate and also make an appreciable impact in that regard is something not only commendable but admirable.”
Speaking in the same vein, a former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Dr. Silas Agara who is also President of Karate Federation of Nigeria lauded Dr. Ifeadi for sparing time to popularise the martial arts through his book.
He called on the military and other paramilitary organizations to lend some support towards the promotion of Karate especially in the schools. According to him, some secondary schools have embraced karate and “we want to encourage the female folks in this country because of its numerous advantages with respect to the challenges we are going through. We want the martial arts to grow in Nigeria.”
Earlier in his welcome address, Ifeadi while recalling that the first edition of his book was launched on 2nd November, 2017, explained that his participation in the Shotokan Karate International Federation (SKIF), International Karate Seminar/Workshop/Training and Grading extravaganza between 28th March to 4th April, 2018 in Tokyo Japan further practically provided him with more valid information that re-inforced the legitimacy of his arguments that Karate is neither demonic, occultic, evil nor satanic.
“Thus, this Second Edition is my humble additional contribution towards the steady growth, development and continuous dissemination of Karate ideas, knowledge and techniques, and an apt categorical documentation of its history in Nigeria and in some other parts of the world.
“The book is intensely aimed at carefully elucidating a myriad of Karate myths, fallacies and truisms by rebutting certain misleading assumptions or presumptions about Karate.
“It is also specifically intended to debunk the occultic, demonic, satanic and arrogant attitudinal perceptions which have been wrongly and mischievously ascribed to the study and practice of Karate and Martial Arts generally, by ill-informed mythographers and religious fanatics.”
The book launch which took place at the Newton Park Hotels & Resort, Wuse area of Abuja had attracted personalities from the armed forces, immigration services, academia, private and public sectors. They included a former Comptroller General of Immigration Service, Mr. Chukwurah Joseph Ude, Brigadier General A.O. Adegbile who represented the Director General of Nigeria Army Resource Centre, General G.A. Wahab and Aminu Baka Yerima; a Deputy Comptroller General of Nigeria who represented the Acting Comptroller General of Immigration Service, Mr. Idris Isah Jere.
Others included a former Director of State Security Service; Barr. Mike Ejiofor, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Contemporary Group Arch. Kester Ifeadi who also stood in for the Chief Launcher; Engr. Jonathan Odega, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Orchids Hotels. The Managing Director of Jefcon & Associates, Engr. John Onwualu, Steve Emelieze representing a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ken Mozia were also in attendance.
From the martial arts family were Dr. Jack Umbo, Founder, Shotokan Karate International Nigeria, Koshian Goby China, Pharm Shihan Victor Akhimien and other Karatekas.
Former Deputy Comptrollers General of Immigration H.Y. Malgwi, Juliana Fariku, Assistant Comptrollers General of Immigration Josephine Kwazu, Mohammed Aminu, Comptrollers of Immigration Hallyday Azuka, Mrs. Mafiana,Garba Ubale and Mohammed Sammani were in attendance.
Others included Mr. Steve Elite of Nortel and his wife Mrs. Isioma Elite, a General Manager with NNPC, Dr. Boniface Opia of Delta State University who reviewed the book, Mr. Emmanuel Metu, Technical Director, Shotokan Karate International and many others.