Former President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, and his family have concluded arrangements to sponsor a National Open Taekwondo Championship that would attract over 700 fighters.

The Chairman of the Northern Taekwondo Union (NTU), Mr Ahmed Danladi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday, that the championship would take place in Minna between July 6 and 10.

Danladi said that the tournament, tagged "Festival of Taekwondo", was aimed at enhancing youth development and empowering them in sporting activities.

"Our goal is to adequately engage area boys, militia groups and other able destitute to utilise their talents for useful ventures and expose them to Taekwondo, on competitive basis," he said.

He also disclosed that participants would be drawn from the 36 states and the FCT, primary and secondary schools, some tertiary institutions, Nigeria airforce, army, police and the immigration service.

The chairman further described Taekwondo as a martial art that would propel the country to greater heights in sporting activities.

Danladi explained that NTU is a non-governmental organisation (NGO), which aim at developing the youths for gainful employment and participation in sports.

He also said that the Union uses Community Action Through Sports (CATS), to empower youths against negative tendencies in the society.

NAN learnt that medals, cash prizes and certificates would be awarded to the winners of the various categories.

The tournament would be an annual event, in order to popularise the game, as well as enable those at grassroots to participate, NAN also learnt.

NTU is a conglomeration of former national Taekwondo champions, veterans and other stakeholders in the game.