Ex-Niger Delta agitators bag sports management scholarship
No fewer than 66 Ex-agitators, including some selected youths from crisis impacted communities in the Niger Delta were on Tuesday offered scholarships to study sports management fundamentals at the Johan Cruyff Institute in Barcelona, Spain.
Speaking at a press conference organized by Sia-One Sports Academy at the Uyo Township Stadium, the facilitator of the programme in Africa, Alhaji Faruk Yabo, who also is the CEO of “To Be Connected Nigeria,” said that the programme is meant to blend academic with sports.
Yabo said that the course contents of the Sports Management Fundamentals which is being delivered in Africa for the first time, was put together by the University of Amsterdam.
He said that the beneficiaries would combine their studies with training sessions, while in camp where they would take three hours lectures every day, adding that, at the end of the four months course, successful participants would be awarded certificates in foundational of sports management.
The Presidential Amnesty Programme in a statement by Mr Piriye Kirayamo, said that the sports programme could lead the ex-agitators to post graduate diploma in sports management, marketing and promotion.
Yabo said: “The first stage of the course is four months foundation in sports management and when you pass that you can go for post graduate diploma and once you complete the post graduate diploma, then you are qualified for the master’s degree in sports marketing, sports promotion and sports management,” he maintained.
“This course is providing opportunity for those talented players who wish to pursue formal education while being actively involved with soccer to combine academic and their football career. It is a programme for all those who want to have a career in sports,” he reiterated.
Yabo said the course provides opportunity for persons in camps to pursue their educational careers, noting that the programme is not like a seminar or workshop but an academic programme that issues certificates to successful participants at the end of the course, pointing out that graduands from the programme will find jobs easily because football attracts attention.
He commended the Special to the President on Niger Delta/Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, Gen. Paul Boroh for providing the opportunity for youths in the Niger Delta to excel in sports.
Speaking earlier, the CEO of Sia-One Sports Academy and former Super Eagles’ National Coach, Samson Siasia, expressed confidence in the programme, just as he thanked Gen. Boroh for providing the platform for the youths to showcase their sports talents through the Presidential Amnesty-Sport for Peace Initiative in the Niger Delta.
A youth leader and entrepreneur, Mr Jude Akpodubakaye, expressed confidence in the ability of the Amnesty boss to implement the mandate of his office because of his background and training in the military.
Mathew Dadiya, Abuja
