Ebere Amaraizu said taekwondo is "a sport with high moral value", and was able to "transform the characters of the youth and build them to be future champions."

Amaraizu was speaking after an official black belt decoration ceremony at the indoor sports hall of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu, a state in the south-east of Nigeria, as reported by Sports247.

As well as his role with the Enugu State Taekwondo Association Amaraizu is also the National Coordinator of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), and said taekwondo was able to help young people thrive within society.

"Such virtues as integrity, perseverance, high moral code, honesty, integrity, indomitable spirit are found in taekwondo as a discipline and sport," Amaraizu said.

"I am pledging continual partnership between POCACOV and the Enugu Taekwondo School for the continued propagation of these values and virtues for excellence and greater society."

Amaraizu received the black belt decoration from the Grandmaster of Enugu Taekwondo School Dennis Ani, who urged him to continue to uphold the principals of taekwondo with its high moral code for societal excellence.

In total, more than 60 youngsters were upgraded to their next taekwondo belts through the school and have been urged to uphold the principles of the sport in line with the Olympic values of excellence, respect and friendship.

Nigeria sent one taekwondo athlete to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, with Elizabeth Anyanacho defeated at the round-of-16 stage in the women’s under-67 kilograms category.