The Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, has tasked the Federal Capital Territory Football Association (FCT FA) and the FCT Sports Department to strengthen grassroots sports development, talent identification and youth engagement across the FCT.
Omidiran made this call on Wednesday when she received the Chairman of the FCT FA, Alhaji Abba Mouktar Mohammed, accompanied by members of the board and management and the Acting Director of Sports, FCT Sports Department, Mr. Iyiola Ogundele, at her office in Abuja.
At the meeting, the FCC boss tasked the management on using sports to promote youth development, social inclusion, talent discovery and greater participation by the six Area Councils in sporting activities, a statement by the FCC spokesperson, Ademola Lawrence revealed.
The meeting came just days after Omidiran attended the opening ceremony of the FCT FA Women’s Inter-Area Council Tournament at the Area 3 Football Pitch, where defending champions AMAC defeated Gwagwalada 7-0 last Friday.
Speaking at the meeting, Omidiran said she was committed to ensuring that the FCT becomes a leading centre for discovering and nurturing sporting talents across different disciplines. The FCC boss urged the FCT Sports Department to pursue the establishment and strengthening of functional sports facilities and activities, while promising to support efforts aimed at securing the necessary institutional and budgetary backing.
“I want FCT to be the arrowhead of any detection of sporting talents, not only football but all sports. We have to be intentional and serious, and we have to see sports as something that can make Nigeria richer,” she said.
“We also have to fight for the employment of coaches in schools. We can start by turning teachers who have knowledge of particular sports into coaches while we work towards bringing in professional coaches,” she added.
The proprietor of Omidiran Babes and former Executive Committee member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Omidiran disclosed that her passion for football began at a young age and later inspired her involvement in women’s football development, adding that her objective had always been to use sport to improve lives.
“I didn’t go into football to become an NFF (Nigeria Football Federation) board member or anything. I just wanted to use football to better the lives of some people. I am very happy because so many of those girls are better off; their lives are better because we encouraged them to play football. That is satisfactory to me,” she said.
The pioneer member of the FIFA Women’s Football Committee also expressed concern over Nigeria’s declining fortunes in women’s football and called for renewed investment, strategic planning and collective leadership to restore the country’s position internationally.
“I am in deep pains seeing that Nigeria can’t even qualify for the Women’s World Cup. If there is any time for anyone to try to change things, this is the time. I pray that we have enough people who also have that vision that the time for positive change is now, because only one person cannot do it,” she stated.
Earlier, Mouktar commended Omidiran for her achievements and described her as a leader whose experience and influence could help advance sports development beyond football. He said the FCT FA was seeking a strong working relationship with the FCC to mobilise the Area Councils and strengthen the territory’s participation in national sporting programmes.
“We are very grateful and honoured 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 only in football,” Mouktar said.
He added: “We are here to forge a strong partnership and also to see how we can help you achieve your mandate. We want the FCT to hold a very strong position in the country, and we believe this partnership can help us mobilise the Area Councils to participate more actively in national sporting programmes.”
The Acting Director of Sports, Ogundele, said the partnership would broaden talent discovery beyond football and create structured opportunities for young people across the FCT.
“What we are seeing among our young people in the communities is not only football talent. Some of these children have the balance, coordination and natural abilities that can translate into gymnastics and other sports. If we can identify and organise them properly, we can give them opportunities to develop and represent the FCT,” he said.
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