The Nigerian Government has approved the recognition of Mixed Martial Arts (NMMAF), as one of the National Sports Federations under the control and supervision of the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development.
Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr Sunday Dare who disclosed on Tuesday in Abuja, said that the approval which was granted on January 11, 2023; follows a series of interfaces between the Federation’s Board and the Ministry “having satisfied the condition precedent, pursuant to NMMAF’s acceptance to abide with the Code of Governance of all National Sports.”
He stated further that “the recognition has also saddled the Federation with the responsibility to develop, regulate and ensure the safety of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) as a thriving sport in Nigeria in line with global best practices.”
While calling on the Federation to work towards discovering and developing talents from the grassroots for the game, Dare urged them to take the game to a world-class status not only through the development and maintenance of strict rules but also by adhering strictly to its standards.
The Mixed Martial Arts Game is reputed to be one of the world’s fastest-growing sports with an estimated 449 million followers worldwide.