The Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Hulayat Omidiran, has asked the FCT Football Association and the FCT Sports Department to focus on discovering local talents in the Federal Capital Territory.
Mrs Omidiran also promised to work with both organizations to boost grassroots sports, identify talents, and engage youths in the area.
She made this promise when the FCT FA Chairman, Abba Mukthar, along with board members and the Acting Director of Sports, Iyiola Ogundele, visited her at the FCC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
The talks centered on using sports to enhance youth development, promote social inclusion, find new talents, and encourage more participation from the six Area Councils in sports activities.
This meeting happened a few days after Mrs Omidiran attended the opening ceremony of the FCT FA Women’s Inter-Area Council Tournament at the Area 3 Football Pitch, where the defending champions AMAC thrashed Gwagwalada 7-0 last Friday.
‘We have to be intentional’
While speaking at the meeting, Mrs Omidiran expressed her determination to make the FCT a top place for discovering and developing sports talents across various fields.
She urged the FCT Sports Department to work on building and improving sports facilities and activities, promising to help secure the necessary support and funding.
“I want FCT to be the leader in discovering sports talents, not just in football but in all sports. We have to be intentional and serious, and we must see sports as something that can make Nigeria better,” she said.
“We also need to push for hiring coaches in schools. We can start by training teachers who know specific sports to become coaches while we seek professional coaches,” she added.
Mrs Omidiran, who owns Omidiran Babes and has been an Executive Committee member of the Nigeria Football Federation, said her interest in football comes from a desire to improve lives.
She shared that her love for football started early in life and later drove her to help develop women’s football.
“I didn’t join football to be on the NFF board or anything like that. I just wanted to use football to change lives. I am so happy because many of those girls are doing better now; their lives improved because we encouraged them to play football. That gives me joy,” she said.
As a pioneer member of the FIFA Women’s Football Committee, Mrs Omidiran also shared her worries about Nigeria’s struggles in women’s football.
She called for more investment, smart planning, and teamwork to bring Nigeria back to the top in international competitions.
“I feel pained that Nigeria can’t even qualify for the Women’s World Cup. If there is any time for anyone to make a change, it is now. I hope we have enough people with the same vision that the time for positive change is now, because one person cannot do it alone,” she stated.
FCT FA seeks stronger partnership
Earlier, Mr Mukthar praised Mrs Omidiran for her successes and called her a leader whose experience could help grow sports beyond just football.
He said the FCT FA wants a stronger partnership with the FCC to engage the Area Councils and boost the territory’s involvement in national sports programs.
“We are very grateful and honored to partner with you in as many ways as possible. You are a leader, a pillar, and someone who has sacrificed so much. You are a beacon of hope to many, not just in football,” Mr Mukthar said.
He added, “We are here to build a strong partnership and see how we can support you in achieving your goals. We want the FCT to hold a strong position in the country, and we believe this partnership can help us get the Area Councils to participate more in national sports programs.”
Mr Ogundele mentioned that the proposed partnership would widen talent discovery beyond football and create organized opportunities for young people across the FCT.
“What we see among our youths in the communities is not just football talent. Some of these kids have the balance, coordination, and skills that can fit into gymnastics and other sports. If we can find and organize them well, we can give them chances to grow and represent the FCT,” he said.
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