Sports
FAME Foundation Boss Vows to Drive Youth Opportunities Through Sports
…Applauds Sports Progress Under NSC
Joel Ajayi
Executive Director of the Female Advocacy Mentoring Empowerment (FAME) Foundation, Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi, has reaffirmed her commitment to using sports as a powerful tool to create opportunities and drive positive change among Nigerian youths.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Nest Resource Centre in Abuja, where she was Guest of Honour at an event organized by the National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Dayo Israel, Atoyebi pledged that FAME Foundation will continue to champion sport-for-development initiatives across the country.
“At FAME, we are intentional about using sports to empower young people, to create opportunities, and to drive positive change across Nigeria. Sport is not just play — it is impact, it is community, it is hope,” she declared.
She emphasized that her over 20 years of experience as a sports writer, administrator, and now advocate, has deepened her conviction that sports remain one of the strongest instruments for unity and transformation.
“Sport is more than competition; it is a vehicle for social change. On the field, no one cares about your background, religion, or tribe. What matters is teamwork, passion, and the goal. We all fly the same flag — and that is unity in its purest form,” she added.
Atoyebi also applauded the progress being recorded in Nigeria’s sports sector under the leadership of Malam Shehu Dikko and Chief Bukola Olopade at the National Sports Commission (NSC).
She urged Nigerians to support ongoing reforms in the sector, noting that with the right leadership, sports can continue to unify the nation and position it for global recognition.
“Sport unifies, builds friendships, bridges divides, and sustains relationships. Nigerians should take a step back and give technocrats the benefit of the doubt. With the right people in charge, delivery is assured — it has been done before, and it can be done again,” she concluded.
Sports
FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification
Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums
Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.
Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.
In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”
He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.
“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”
Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT
Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.
“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.
Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.
“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”
The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.
He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development
As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.
“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”
Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.
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