Sports

IDSPD 2023: Push for Peace and Development Through Sports –FAME Foundation

Published

3 years ago

April 6, 2023

The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP), observed on April 6 each year, provides a chance to commemorate the important role that sport and physical exercise play in communities and people’s lives around the world.

In acknowledgement of sport’s broad significance, the global theme of IDSDP 2023 is “Scoring for People and the Planet”.

IDSDP emphasizes how effective sports are at uniting people and fostering change in society. Sports have a special capacity to break down boundaries and foster understanding between people from different cultures, beliefs, and origins.

It also emphasizes the significance of gender equality by encouraging women to participate in sports and offers them chances to develop their confidence, leadership abilities, and self-esteem.

Speaking in Abuja, the Executive Director of FAME Foundation, Arabinrin Aderonke Ogunleye-Bello has urged all organizations to promote peace building and development while acknowledging significance of this day.

“I am pleased to see sports being used not only to promote gender equality, but also as a unifier and a means of bringing people together regardless of color, ethnicity, religion, or tribe. Sports is a force for goodwill and progress, so I urge all governmental bodies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and communities, to apply sports as one of the tools they are using to foster peace and development,” says Arabinrin Ogunleye-Bello.

Speaking further, she said other sports should be accommodated and not just football, stating that although football is the most popular sport in Nigeria, there are other sports liked by many people which could be utilized to promote peace.

“Sports like yoga, tennis, basketball, cricket, badminton and any others, could be used to advocate for development, this however, could be determined by location, cultural beliefs of project beneficiaries. For the push of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), sports is an important vehicle that must be considered,” she concluded.

The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace strives to raise awareness of the enormous potential that sports offer to significantly impact society and its celebrated on April 6, every year.

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Sports

FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification

Published

20 hours ago

October 5, 2025

The Gleamer

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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