The Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Hulayat Omidiran, has called on the FCT Football Association (FCT FA) and the FCT Sports Department to make grassroots talent discovery a priority across the Federal Capital Territory.
Mrs Omidiran also pledged to collaborate with the two bodies to strengthen grassroots sports development, talent identification and youth engagement across the territory.
She made the commitment when the FCT FA Chairman, Abba Mukthar, accompanied by members of the board and management, and the Acting Director of Sports, FCT Sports Department, Iyiola Ogundele, paid her a courtesy visit at the FCC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
The discussions focused on using sports to promote youth development, social inclusion, talent discovery and greater participation by the six Area Councils in sporting activities.
The meeting came days after Mrs Omidiran attended the opening ceremony of the FCT FA Women’s Inter-Area Council Tournament at the Area 3 Football Pitch, where defending champions AMAC defeated Gwagwalada 7-0 last Friday.
‘We have to be intentional’
Speaking at the meeting, Mrs Omidiran said she was committed to making the FCT a leading centre for discovering and nurturing sporting talents across different disciplines.
She urged the FCT Sports Department to pursue the establishment and strengthening of functional sports facilities and activities, while promising to support efforts to secure the necessary institutional and budgetary backing.
“I want FCT to be the arrowhead of any detection of sporting talents, not only football but all sports. We have to be intentional and serious, and we have to see sports as something that can make Nigeria richer,” she said.
“We also have to fight for the employment of coaches in schools. We can start by turning teachers who have knowledge of particular sports into coaches while we work towards bringing in professional coaches,” she added.
Mrs Omidiran, who is the proprietor of Omidiran Babes and a former Executive Committee member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), said her involvement in football was driven by a desire to use the sport to improve lives.
She said her passion for football began at a young age and later inspired her to contribute to the development of women’s football.
“I didn’t go into football to become an NFF (Nigeria Football Federation) board member or anything. I just wanted to use football to better the lives of some people. I am very happy because so many of those girls are better off; their lives are better because we encouraged them to play football. That is satisfactory to me,” she said.
Mrs Omidiran, a pioneer member of the FIFA Women’s Football Committee, also expressed concern over Nigeria’s declining fortunes in women’s football.
She called for renewed investment, strategic planning and collective leadership to restore the country’s position on the international stage.
“I am in deep pains seeing that Nigeria can’t even qualify for the Women’s World Cup. If there is any time for anyone to try to change things, this is the time. I pray that we have enough people who also have that vision that the time for positive change is now, because only one person cannot do it,” she stated.
FCT FA seeks stronger partnership
Earlier, Mr Mukthar commended Mrs Omidiran for her achievements and described her as a leader whose experience and influence could help advance sports development beyond football.
READ ALSO: Nigeria must return to grassroots to rebuild women’s football — Omidiran
He said the FCT FA was seeking a stronger working relationship with the FCC to mobilise the Area Councils and improve the territory’s participation in national sporting programmes.
“We are very grateful and honoured to partner with you in as many ways as possible. You are a leader, a pillar and someone who has sacrificed so much. You are a beacon of hope to many, not only in football,” Mr Mukthar said.
He added, “We are here to forge a strong partnership and also to see how we can help you achieve your mandate. We want the FCT to hold a very strong position in the country, and we believe this partnership can help us mobilise the Area Councils to participate more actively in national sporting programmes.”
Mr Ogundele said the proposed partnership would expand talent discovery beyond football and create structured opportunities for young people across the FCT.
“What we are seeing among our young people in the communities is not only football talent. Some of these children have the balance, coordination and natural abilities that can translate into gymnastics and other sports. If we can identify and organise them properly, we can give them opportunities to develop and represent the FCT,” he said.
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