Sports

My Desire Is To Give Young Nigerians Opportunity To Excel In Life-Rt Hon Essien

Published

4 years ago

October 13, 2022

Joel Ajayi

The Proprietor of the FC One Rocket team based in Akwa Ibom state South-South Nigeria Rt. Hon Otuekong Nse Essien has revealed that his desire is to give a platform for more young Nigerian who don’t have the opportunity to exhibit their God-giving talent that will propel them to greatness in life.

NFF new board member Hon Essien stated this while speaking to Sports Journalists in Abuja where he talked about his journey into football and his plan for the young ones who don’t have the opportunity.

Rt. Hon. Essien, a soft spoken, gentleman who equally owned a football academy said that his passion to help the needy make him fast rack building of a stadium in his community, while many young footballer on his pay roll on Monthly basis.

According to him, we are trying to give the young people an opportunity to exhibit their God-giving talent.

“Life is about having a platform to exhibit what you can do in life and that is what we do for the young people.”

He equally identified capacity building, integrity and grassroots development as part of his innovation he is bringing on board for more growth and development of Nigeria football.

When asked what will be his contribution to the NFF? He replied: “By the grace of God, I am bringing the capacity that is the truth, I will bring integrity as well as grassroots development. That is why I have an academy, like said earlier, my academy supplies most players. So these younger people are there in the rural and urban areas. There is a need for us to give them a platform.

“I will also try to encourage the leadership of the federation to look into grassroots growth, thankfully NFF President said, he will not play with football grassroots development.

“We need to go back to the era when we had a state league, state league is not functioning anymore, I wish to also have a governor’s cup in my state, and these are the kinds of things I want to encourage.”

He however, identified fund, sponsorship and inability of the league to be on TV as challenges of football in the country, saying those challenges propel him to come into NFF board to contribute his quota toward football growth.

Speaking on the FC One Rocket team, he expressed that his target is to nurture the club to represent Nigeria in the continient of Africa and even beyond.

“Let me tell you, I envy people like Kunle Soname, that is my model, I want to be like him, look at the facilities he provided for CAF Cup, I want to be like him, have such magnificent stadium and also be able to go to Africa

“My desire for the club is to be in premier league and even represent Nigeria in the continent of Africa.”

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Sports

AACT 2026: 31 Days to Africa’s Big Sporting Gathering in Abuja

Published

4 hours ago

October 2, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The countdown to the 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT) has officially entered the final month, with just 31 days to go before Africa’s leading women’s team golf championship tees off at the IBB International Golf & Country Club in Abuja.

In a statement signed by the AACT 2026Director of Communication Kayode Adeniyi on Friday in Abuja.

Under the theme “Africa Is Coming to Abuja,” the countdown campaign will spotlight the championship, the participating nations, the players, the host venue and the growing development of women’s golf across the continent.

The 2026 AACT, scheduled for November 2–7, will bring together women’s golfing talent from across Africa for six days of continental competition in Nigeria’s capital.

As preparations continue at the IBB International Golf & Country Club, attention is increasingly turning to Abuja, where the championship will provide a platform for African golfers to compete while also showcasing Nigeria’s hospitality and the country’s growing profile as a destination for major sporting events.

The countdown will feature daily stories, interviews, player and country profiles, tournament facts, behind-the-scenes updates and features on the host venue as the championship draws closer.

The campaign will also highlight the role of the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN), the Local Organising Committee and other stakeholders in preparing for the continental championship.

With just 31 days remaining, anticipation is building across the African golfing community as Abuja prepares to welcome the continent’s leading women golfers.

Africa is coming to Abuja.

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