CAF Schools Football Champs: NFF, UBEC commit to fruitful collaboration

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) have agreed to a meaningful and fruitful collaboration that will see Nigeria competing strongly for honors in the annual African Schools Football Championship.

It will also help to compel sporting infrastructure renewal in Nigeria’s pre-tertiary educational institutions.

Speaking during a courtesy call on the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, on Monday, NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau explained that the annual competition can spur infrastructural upgrades in Nigeria’s primary and secondary schools, lead to the discovery of talents even beyond the imaginable, and assure Nigeria’s football future.

In a statement on Tuesday from the NFF Communications Department emailed to Persecondnews, Gusau pointed out the need for grassroots development for football in schools and disclosed that the championship prize money of $1 million will be used to provide football infrastructure for that school.

He said: “The African Schools Football Championship is for U13 and U15 pupils and is organized by CAF.

“There are so many benefits for the winning school, with a prize money of $1 million that will be used to provide football infrastructure for that school.

“I see no reason why our schools should not compete strongly, as a triumph for one school in the country will have a multiplier effect on other schools.

“We have come to UBEC because this matter falls squarely within its purview. Last year, the NFF worked with the Nigeria School Sports Federation to produce representative schools in the male and female categories to fly Nigeria’s flag in our debut in the competition.

“However, we believe we should expand the scope and get more schools involved to have a very strong representation and stand the chance of winning both trophies.”

Gusau added that the NSSF has concluded plans to kick off the state preliminaries of the male and female competitions this month, with the WAFU-B Tournament scheduled for the Niger Republic in November, at which the WAFU-B flagbearers for the continental finals will emerge.

In his remarks, UBEC Executive Secretary Dr. Bobboyi praised the NFF’s leadership for the visit and pledged UBEC’s full cooperation on the project.

He said: “Infrastructural deficit is a big challenge in our primary and junior secondary schools, and this project will definitely help to speed up our own efforts to restore the good old days of standard facilities and equipment in our schools.

“Since 2018, we have been making efforts to restore sporting infrastructure in our schools by appealing to state governments and providing the equipment that we can.

“Many countries of the world specifically offer scholarships to athletes simply because of their sporting ability.

“Sports help children to develop physically and mentally, and we also must safeguard the future of sports by taking practical steps to unearth talents from the schools and the grassroots that can be nurtured for glory.”

Also present at the occasion were NFF 1st Vice President, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu; General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi; Engr. Sadiq Sa’ad (UBEC Director of Physical Planning); Ademola Olajire (NFF Director of Media and Communications); Okey Obi (NFF Director of Legal Services); Ruth David (NFF Director of Competitions) and Dr. Funsho Usman (Secretary General, NSSF).

Others are Mrs. Rose Medubi (Director, Academic Services); Mr. Osahon Igbinoba (Director, PRS); Alh. Adamu Misau (Director, Finance & Accounts); Mr. Paul Agi (Director, Admin & Supplies); Mr. Hashimu Ojah (Director, NSSF); and Mrs. Lydia Gbagyi (Desk Officer, Sports).