The Uzzitz Events Centre in Mabuchi, Abuja, was a burst of color, flips, and family pride over the weekend as Purple Crown Gymnastics Club hosted the 6th Edition of its Gymnastics Fun Day. From first-time performers to four-year veterans, young athletes wowed parents, sponsors, and international guests. Comrade Ayodele Olusegun Ariyo takes a critical look at what the club got right, where it can improve, and why corporate Nigeria should pay attention.
Purple Crown’s 6th Gymnastics Fun Day: A Win for Talent, A Lesson in Timing
Talent on full display
Purple Crown Gymnastics Club successfully hosted its 6th Gymnastics Fun Day at Uzzitz Events Centre for Arts and Culture, Mabuchi, Abuja. Students, parents, invited guests, and gymnastics enthusiasts from different countries turned out, creating an atmosphere of excitement, family bonding, and sporting excellence.
More than cartwheels
The event showcased the remarkable progress of young gymnasts through choreographed routines and individual performances. Parents and guardians applauded the club’s commitment to nurturing discipline, confidence, resilience, and sporting excellence — values that extend beyond the mat.
New parents impressed
Mr. Sanmi Lajuwunmi, whose daughter Miss Desire joined only a few months ago, expressed delight at her confidence on stage. “Seeing her perform alongside other children in such a well-organised event is truly encouraging. I commend the organisers and urge them to continue the excellent work,” he said.
Praise for Coach Martha Gabriel
Mrs. Aisha Salim, grandmother of Anita Mukhtar and a two-time attendee, praised Head Coach and CEO Coach Martha Gabriel for her dedication and professionalism in developing young talents. Salim has referred several friends to the club and called the training environment “nurturing and focused.”
Critical feedback: Time management
Salim, however, advised organisers to tighten time management. She noted that delays caused clashes with other scheduled family activities — a recurring issue that future editions should address to respect parents’ time.
Building confidence in weeks, not years
Mrs. Dara, whose daughter Shabiba joined barely a month ago, said she had already noticed remarkable improvement in confidence and performance. She suggested adding public speaking sessions for beauty pageant contestants, arguing that speaking on topics of national importance would deepen the event’s educational value.
Engagement for all ages
Mrs. Yewande Aluko, who came to support her granddaughter, loved the children’s performances but recommended adding fun games and entertainment for parents and elderly family members. “Make it engaging for everyone in the hall, not just the athletes,” she advised.
Eyes on international stage
Mrs. Aisha Mukhtar, mother of four-year club members Aliya and Sa’ada, praised the children’s growth. She expressed confidence that with continuous training, many Purple Crown gymnasts could one day represent Nigeria at international competitions.
Sponsors see impact
Club sponsor Mrs. Stella Chibuike-Ezike, whose children are at Levels Two and Three, applauded the club’s impact over three years. She said Purple Crown has built discipline, focus, responsibility, and character. She appealed to more corporate organizations and individuals to support the club in producing future champions.
Corporate backing grows
Mrs. Adiat Olajumoke Ariyo, CEO of Nanny’s Palace Limited, was impressed by the organization and children’s enthusiasm. She announced that Nanny’s Palace would sponsor the next event with a special support package, reaffirming the company’s slogan: “Loved by Kids… Trusted by Parents.”
Coach’s vision for the future
In her closing remarks, Coach Martha Gabriel thanked participants, parents, sponsors, and guests for making the event a success. She expressed satisfaction with the performances and promised the November 2026 edition would be “bigger and better.”
Call for bigger partnerships
Gabriel expressed optimism that major corporate brands like MTN Nigeria and MultiChoice Nigeria would partner with the club. Such partnerships, she said, would help scale gymnastics development and give Nigerian children more global exposure.
Critical take: Strengths vs gaps
The 6th Fun Day confirmed Purple Crown’s strength: structured training, confident kids, and strong parent engagement. The critical gap remains logistics — starting and ending on schedule. For an event built on discipline, punctuality must match the message.
Community impact
Beyond medals, the event reinforced gymnastics as a tool for character building in Abuja. Parents repeatedly cited confidence and responsibility as the biggest gains, not just flexibility and balance.
The road ahead
With sponsor interest rising and parent referrals increasing, Purple Crown is positioned to grow. The challenge now is to match its athletic standards with event management standards.
Final word
Coach Gabriel concluded by appreciating everyone who attended and supported the 6th Gymnastics Fun Day. If Purple Crown fixes timing and adds the suggested educational + family engagement segments, the 7th edition could set a new benchmark for grassroots sports events in Nigeria.
