Kwara State government has reiterated its passion for the development of youth, as well as the growth of girl-child, even as it pledges to open more windows of opportunities that will sustain hope and future for the youth.
The Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon. Nafisat Musa Buge, while kicking off the second edition of the 6-a-side female football competition in honour of Kwara First Lady, Ambassador Professor (Dr) Mrs Olufolake Ajike AbdulRazaq yesterday, February 5, 2023 promised government’s support for female football.
Six female clubs and six female school teams are currently competing for honours in the second edition of the 6-a-side football competition at the Kwara State Stadium Complex, Ilorin.
The competition is being organised by Hajia Segilola Alaya, who is the Chairperson of the Kwara State Football Association Female Football Development Committee, and Board member of Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL).
According to the Commissioner, “the passion of His Excellency, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to support the grooming and encouragement of the girl-child is huge because when you train a woman, you train a whole nation. Our Governor is passionate about young people, specifically, the female gender.
“Our resolve is that female football in Kwara state will henceforth, change for better. It has been good, but it will change for better through the efforts of Mallam AbdulRahaman AbdulRasaq.
While thanking the Organiser for honouring the First Lady with the befitting competition, she congratulated Ambassador Professor (Mrs) Olufolake AbdulRazaq for the honour, which she added, was in line with the vision of the First Lady’s project.
“We thank the Organiser for honouring the First Lady this way, for their endurance, and for encouraging and gathering young people to give them hope and future, by taking them off the streets. By taking them off the streets, you are taking them off crime.
She therefore, charged the Organiser not to relent in encouraging young people in sports and other meaningful ways, so as to have a crime-free Kwara.
In her welcome address, the Chairperson of the Organising Committee, Hajia Segilola Alaya said that staging the competition was part of her efforts at not only developing the game.of football among the girls, but also creating additional opportunity for the girl-child to be useful to their parents, the state and nation at large.
“It’s also a way of complementing the huge investment of the state government towards the development of youth and sports”, she said.
“I want to thank Her Excellency, the First Lady, Ambassador Professor (Dr) Mrs Olufolake Ajike AbdulRazaq, for supporting this initiative.
Hajia Alaya commended the state government for encouraging the right atmosphere, the State Sports Commission, Kwara State Football Association, State Referees Council, the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and other stakeholders, for their support.
She congratulated Her Excellency, Ambassador Professor (Dr) Mrs Olufolake Ajike AbdulRazaq, for the honour.
Three matches were played yesterday, with United Community Secondary School and Ilorin Grammar School playing out a goalless draw in the first match in the schools category.
In the clubs category, Abruka Queens defeated Winning Stars of Omu-Aran 3-1, while Moje Queens of Erin-Ile and Model Football Academy ended their match goalless.
Other schools in the contest are Unilorin Secondary School, Ilorin, Government Day Secondary School, Odota, Police Secondary School and Al Halal International School, Ilorin.
The other club in the clubs category is Kwara Ladies.
Matches continues till February 10, 2024, when the finals in both categories will come up.
Present at the ocassion are Hon. Aileru Olamilekan Mikail, who is the SA on Drug Abuse, Prevention and Control, Kwara FA Secretary, Kashim Agaka, Ambassador Mukhtar Afonja, the Provost, Ibrahim Adewale College of Health Sciences, Abdulmajeed Sabi, the PA to the Commissioner for Youth and the Press Secretary of the Ministry, Oluwafemi Samuel Adeoye.
Others are Mallam Ademola Kiyesola, Kwara State YSFON Chairman, Alhaji B. U. Yahaya, Engr Idris Jibril, Mrs Abimbola Olaoye of Olabims Football Academy, and Coach Tunde Sanni of Kwara United FC among others.
