By Uzor Maxim Uzoatu
The National Sports Commission, South-East Zone, is flagging off the first edition of Chief Chiemeka Charles Ezenwanne South-East Para-Powerlifting Competition on October 23 and 24, 2025.
The venue is the Indoor Hall, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, and the starting time is 9am.
The Special Guests are the South-East Governors, and the competition’s theme is: “Discover, Develop & Adjust.”
Chief Ezenwanne is burning with the avid desire to develop Para-Powerlifting in the South-East zone, stressing: “… together we develop the zone.”
The President of the Nigeria Para-Powerlifting Federation, Chief Chiemeka Charles Ezenwanne, was born in Umuchu, Aguata LGA of Anambra State.
He was educated at Lafiaji Primary School, Onitsha and Modebe Memorial Secondary School, also in Onitsha.
He is a graduate of Lagos State University, and has added in due course a Master’s Degree in Diplomacy and Strategy Studies at the University of Lagos, Akoka.
A resourceful businessman and Christian, he is the Managing Director of Marvel Nigeria Limited, a firm involved in the importation of Christmas decorations and articles.
He has been a past President of Rotary International of Tin Can Island and a life member of Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship.
As the President of the Nigeria Para-Powerlifting Fed eration, Chief Chiemeka Charles Ezenwanne has enjoyed uncommon success.
From the beginning, at the inaugural meeting of the federation held on Tuesday, August 30, 2022, at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, he charged the elected members of his executive board to rise up to responsibilities beyond the ambit of the previous boards. He was quite determined to arrest the dwindling fortunes of Nigeria Para-Powerlifting.
He vowed that nothing can stop him from making the sport to bounce back into reckoning under his watch. He did not waste any time whatsoever before setting up some committees to actualize his dream. The committees included Marketing/Sponsorship, Protocol, Technical, and Media/Publicity etc.
As an enlightened inclusive leader, he appointed the immediate past President, Ruel Ishaku, a former athlete, as the new Technical Director.
He charged the board to embark on talent hunt programmes all over the country, in all the geo-political zones.
It was paramount in his drive to correct the ills of the past, particularly the embarrassing situation that made Nigeria to lose two crucial gold medals at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games in the United Kingdom.
He refused to be daunted by the issue of funding which was the major challenge of the international engagements such as the Egypt and Mexico championships.
An all-conquering enigma, he has completely turned around the fortunes of the hitherto neglected sports federation.
President Ezenwanne has profound words of thanks for the former Sports Minister Sunday Dare and also showers praises on Peak Milk for the immense support in the course of the federation’s engagements.
His immense accomplishments includes leading Nigerian para-powerlifters to a tremendous outing at the African Open Para-Powerlifting Cham pionship in Egypt.
Team Nigeria won 43 gold, 14 Silver and two bronze medals. There were additional five gold medals won in the women’s team events. The medal hauls put the team at advantage of qualifying many lifters to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in France.
A total of 27 countries including those from out side Africa took part in the tourney.
President Ezenwane is as ever determined to solicit for more support to attend other upcoming Champion ships which were also path ways to Paris 2024 Paralym pic Games.
He has been urging well-to-do Nigerians and sundry corporate organi sations to come to the federation’s assistance.
Chief Chiemeka Charles Ezenwanne, the President of the Nigeria Para-Powerlifting Federation, is a shining star worthy of celebration in the leadership of Nigeria’s sports federations.
He is married to Nneka Adaobi Ezenwanne, and the marriage is blessed with three daughters and a son.
With the inauguration of the maiden edition of the Chief Chiemeka Charles Ezenwanne South-East Para-Powerlifting Competition on October 23 and 24 in Enugu, the all-conquering President of the Nigeria Para-Powerlifting Federation is doing wonders before our very eyes.
