Education
NFF, NPFL, V Agency Sports Management Join Forces to Advance Scouting Methodologies in Nigeria Through Education and Technology
By Joel Ajayi
In a continued effort to enhance Nigerian football, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), and the Hungary-based sports management company V Agency have teamed up to advance scouting methodologies in Nigeria through education and technology.
Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja at a workshop organized by V Agency Sports Management to highlight the transformative role of technology in scouting, NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau stated that Nigeria has been lagging in scouting. He emphasized the need to partner with the Hungarian sports agency, V Agency, to help discover talent and secure opportunities for selected players in Europe.
He said, “Nigeria is being left behind in the area of scouting, which has led many people from outside the country to organize competitions and pick some of the best players to secure them clubs abroad.
“To bridge this gap, the NFF must collaborate with Hungary to train Nigerians in scouting courses and also organize competitions to discover players and secure better opportunities for them. This initiative is in three phases, and this is just the first part of it.”
In his address, the Chairman of the NPFL, Gbenga Elegbeleye, expressed pride in collaborating with V Agency, a distinguished Hungarian company renowned for its expertise in advanced scouting methodologies.
“In the ever-evolving world of football, staying ahead requires innovation and adaptability. By integrating advanced technology into our scouting operations, we gain several key advantages,” he said.
“By embracing these technological advancements, facilitated by our partnership with V Agency, the NPFL can enhance its scouting processes, fostering a more competitive and dynamic football environment in Nigeria.”
He urged stakeholders to remain committed to integrating these innovations to ensure Nigerian football continues to excel and inspires future generations.
The Ambassador of Hungary, Lorand Endreffy, also spoke at the event, expressing the Hungarian Embassy’s full support for the partnership’s success. He commended Nigeria’s global football achievements, noting that the country has produced numerous renowned players currently playing across Europe.
“Our embassy is ready to support both parties in their football development efforts. Football plays a major role in both Nigeria and Hungary. The Nigerian Super Eagles have inspired millions, making them one of the best teams globally.
“Therefore, it is essential that grassroots talents are developed and mentored by professionals to gain the necessary skills and become world-class players.”
However, the event covered various topics, including the use of advanced scouting software, video editing techniques, artificial intelligence, and analytics courses.
It also explored how these tools, in conjunction with assessments of players’ physical attributes, can transform professional scouting. Additionally, the workshop highlighted V Agency’s efforts in fostering sports and educational partnerships in Nigeria, creating opportunities for collaboration among football clubs, academies, schools, and industry professionals.
The workshop provided valuable insights into leveraging technology and education for talent identification and development. By integrating modern scouting methods and educational programs, this partnership aims to elevate the standards of football scouting in Nigeria, ensuring a more systematic, data-driven approach to discovering and nurturing football talent.
Education
Nigeria’s Intervention Paying Dividends in Our Education Sector-Prof.Gomez,Gambian Minister for Higher Education
Joel Ajayi
Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology of The Gambia,Prof.Pierre Gomez has conveyed the gratitude of the Government of The Gambia to the Federal Government of Nigeria, saying Nigeria’s intervention in the education sector of their country is paying dividends.
The Minister,who disclosed, Wednesday, during a visit to the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps in Abuja,how pleased the President of their country is at the glaring impact of the injection of some Engineering Professors of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps into the running of the University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology (USET) of The Gambia,also revealed that the Nigerian Professors have changed the narrative in the country’s higher education with regards to skills, innovation and enterprise development,such that enrollment at the USET has increased from 47 to over 200 in the last academic season.
While commending the professional astuteness of the TAC Volunteers currently serving in The Gambia,Prof. Gomez informed that the Engineering Professors were championing a new wave of thinking out of the box that are aimed at fashioning out self- funding initiatives for Universities that had , hitherto ,depended solely on government’s subvention.
The Minister,who also informed of the establishment of a new University of Education in his country, said they had looked towards the direction of Nigeria to help in fostering the University into a place of excellence,since all Universities must be seen as places of excellence and Nigeria has all it takes to foster such demands.
He also added that apart from coming to demonstrate appreciation to Nigeria,the delegation specifically had another reason for the visit.He said:
“Today we are here again to request the help of our big brother, Nigeria.This is because your Volunteers have performed greatly well in our country. The great dynamism they have brought into our country’s higher education is changing narratives everywhere and we cannot but request for more hands to mentor our teachers and administrators to get things right.
“You gave us all we needed before. The Engineering Professors you gave to our country are more than anyone can ever ask in terms of their productivity and results on ground. But here we are again,we are begging your professionals to come and mentor our people in the area of Education,a different area from what the Engineers are already doing.”
While assuring the people of The Gambia of the continuous support of Nigeria in the area of her educational needs,the Director General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps,Rt.Hon.Yusuf Buba Yakub said the whole idea of NTAC was to fill such gaps among brother nations in the ACP countries.
He congratulated the Government and people of The Gambia on the roles Prof.Gomez has continued to play to make better the higher education sector of the country,adding that the new University of Education would aid in no small way in producing the needed crop of teachers that would deepen education and research in the West African nation.
Buba pledged to immediately set in motion the process of offering the requested assistance to The Gambia in the weeks ahead, stressing that the impact of today’s decision on the country ‘s teaching and learning needs would reverberate positively in the sector in the next twenty years.
Among those who were part of the Minister’s delegation were:Dr.Alieu B.Senghore, Chairman of the University of Education,The Gambia;Mr.Aboubacarr Jallow,Provost of the University,as well as Mr.Siaka Saidilzigh,a Principal Assistant Secretary at the country’s Ministry of Higher Education and Mr.Babucarr Dumbuya,First Secretary at the High Commission of The Gambia in Abuja.
From the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps were the Director of Programmes at the Agency,Amb.Zakari Usman and Mr.Lawandy Bala, Special Assistant to the Director General on Protocol Matters,among others.
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