More than four thousand seven hundred children/youths at the IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) Camp in Uhogua recently hit the ground running when they took part in a four-day sport-themed “Life Skills” event that marked the formal inauguration of the Uhogua Edusport Hub (Centre of sport and academic excellence). This is the second Edusport Hub to be launched by CSED Initiative in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria.
The children/youths definitely enjoyed their time during this four-day event with new access to 250 general interest books/novels for their library, free access to 3000 anti-drug abuse brochures, provision of some basic training kits/equipment, access to instructions and supervision by 20 sports coaches and 19 demonstration athletes.
Furthermore, netball, table tennis, badminton, chess, cricket and scrabble were introduced to the children/youth for the first time. The staff of the Camp were also enlightened about their duty of care (safeguarding responsibilities) to the children/youths, by Mrs Clara Ukulu (Social worker/Community Development Consultant).
At the opening ceremony of this event, CSED National Coordinator read a prepared speech by the Trustees of the NGO, who urged the children to imbibe the virtue of tolerance and respect for each other, hard work and peace.
Other sporting codes that featured in this event were football, volleyball, basketball, athletics and handball.
The conception and successful hosting of this event is an indication of how collaboration of NGOs (CSED, Foundation for a drug free world, Lord’s Taverners, Peace and Community Empowerment Initiative and BB4P ), the public sector (Edo State Sports Commission and Edo Boys High School) and national sports federations (Nigeria Cricket Federation and Nigeria Table Tennis Federation) could work together to use education and sports to engage and inspire children/youths, as well as promote peace and development in the community.
Following the huge enthusiasm showed by the children/youths, within the next two weeks CSED National Coordinator (Edema Fuludu) will hold a meeting with the Management of the IDP Camp Uhogua in order to map out how the gains made from this four day event could be sustained in respect of providing the children/youths with access to quality sport coaching in future.
