Abuja, NIGERIA — Recently, two Nigerian teenage brothers, Moneme Benedict Ozioma and Moneme Hillary, students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University HIgh School, Awka, took the country by surprise when they won gold and silver medals in the junior category of the last Inspector General of Police Taekwondo Championship held in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State.
Their father, Hon. Emeka Moneme is a proud dad and often praises his children pure energy and kids’ youthful spirits.
“I received the news of the exploits of my children at the 10th Inspector General of Police Taekwondo Championship in Bayelsa with utmost joy and gratitude to God,” he told Time Africa.
The duo of Benedict and Hillary, are not the only children of Moneme who are following in their dad’s Taekwondo-playing footsteps.
According to Moneme, “all my four children are in the game. My daughter, Munachi holds a Taekwondo Red belt and represented Anambra state at the 2021 Youth Games in Kwara where she got to the quarter finals. Their eldest brother, Somadina holds a Taekwondo Red belt also, though he concentrates more on football.”
Despite their young age, Benedict and Hillary have already demonstrated their athletic abilities — and with a father like Moneme.
At the last Anambra school sports festival, Benedict won two Gold medals and emerged the most valuable player while Hillary won one Gold and one silver. Before then, at the 2021 National Youth Games in Kwara, Hillary gave a scintillating performance to win the Bronze medal.
Earlier in 2016 at the 14th Panamai West African Open International Taekwondo Championship which held in Cotonou, Benin Republic, Hillary won the Silver medal while Benedict won the Bronze medal for kiddies.
Moneme made it clear that his children’s decision to play Taekwondo wasn’t forced.
“I must say that the kids have been dedicated to the game with such zeal that cannot be quantified. They started Taekwondo quite early at three to four years of age and currently hold a Taekwondo Junior black belt respectively.,” he said.
He has also revealed the children’s technical training to further improve their game and the general support received from Anambra State government.
“Their story cannot be complete without the mention of the Anambra state Taekwondo coach, Master Jude Nwafor who discovered and groomed them to this stage as well as the Vice Chancellor and Management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University including the Principal and Management of their school, the Unizik High School, Awka, who provided the enabling environment and support that enhanced their performance.
He added, “I will not fail to commend the Governor of Anambra state, Professor Chukwuma Soludo because under him and for the first time in Anambra state, Benedict got a reward as the MVP after the Anambra School Sports Festival. It was the first time that any of them got rewarded by any Anambra Governor despite bringing glory to the state right from their tender ages.
“After their win in Cotonou, they had hopes of at least a handshake from the then Anambra state Governor but it didn’t come. Then, the hard won Bronze medal by Hillary at the National Youth Games in 2021was also not rewarded which elicited questions from the children as to whether it was okay to labour to win laurels for the state after which they get nothing, not even a handshake.
“That is the challenge that I had to face over the years and so I had to find other ways to motivate them because I knew that they have prospects of ruling the world in the game of Taekwondo. So Governor Soludo came with positive actions and for the first time the children felt motivated and are encouraged to do more. I hope that the effort of the Governor would be sustained.
Benedict and Hillary are gearing up for the 2023 National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State.
According to Moneme, “they are now preparing for this year’s National Youth Games which will take place in September in Asaba and I will hope that the government will place premium on the athletes who can better be described as valuable assets to the state.”
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